Work

Hydrogen sulfide-mediated cardiovascular protection involved in the antihypertensive effect of the saiga antelope horn

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevanceSaiga antelope horn (SAH), derived from the male Saiga tatarica Linnaeus, has been used in China for millennia to treat hyperpyretic convulsions and hypertension-related diseases. Clarifying its effectiveness and mechanism of action are essential because of its limited availability. This study will guide the investigation of alternative resources.Aim of the studyThis study aims to illustrate the acute and long-term antihypertensive effects of SAH on spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), and further explore its mechanism related to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), other reactive sulfur species (RSS), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).Materials and methodsThe effectiveness of SAH was investigated in the SHR model. Blood pressure was monitored independently by the tail-cuff method and carotid artery intubation. Hypertension was scored weekly by assessment of physical signs, including facial temperature, water consumption, irritability, pain, and rotation time. The effects of SAH on the RAAS, vasoactive substances, and sympathetic neurotransmitters were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and colorimetry on completion of the study. Transcriptomics detected differentially expressed mRNAs and enriched signaling pathways in thoracic aorta tissue. H2 was measured in the mesenteric arteries and thoracic aorta by probe staining and lead sulfide detection. H2S and other RSS were measured in intestinal tissue by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The correlation of the antihypertensive activity of SAH with H2S was tested with DL-propargylglycine (PAG), a cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) inhibitor. SAH organ protection was evaluated by histopathologic staining of artery, heart, and kidney tissue.

Source: Journal of Ethnopharmacology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.119638