Cardiovascular receptor binding affinity of aqueous extracts from Allium species.

摘要

Antihypertensive effect of garlic, and its potential association to interactions with adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors involved in regulating blood pressure, were investigated, and data were compared with those obtained from wild Allium species. Aqueous extracts of bulbs or leaves of garlic, A. neapolitanum, A. subhirsutum and A. roseum were tested for their in vitro affinity for adrenergic ( alpha1, alpha2, beta1 and beta2) and dopaminergic (D1 and D2) receptors by radioligand binding assays. Bulbs extracts of A. neapolitanum and A. subhirsutum had higher affinities for the beta2 receptors and bulb extract of A. roseum for D2 receptors. The known antihypertensive activity of garlic could not be correlated with binding to receptors involved in blood pressure regulation. However, aqueous extracts of the wild-type species of Allium showed much higher affinities.