Efficacy of linalool to ameliorate uremia induced vascular calcification in wistar rats.

BACKGROUND

Uremia is the condition generally associated with the last stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to highly reduced glomerular filtration rate. Mortality of the patients diagnosed with Uremia generally occurs due to cardiovascular involvement. This occurs due to the transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into osteogenic cells in hyperphosphatemic condition that is associated with kidney failure promoting extra-osseous calcification.

PURPOSE

Linalool is an essential oil that has been recently studied for its procardiovascular effects, thus the aim of the study involved to identify its potential role on vascular calcification (VC).

METHODS

Uremia was induced in male wistar rats, weighing 250-350 gm by giving adenine diet for 4 weeks followed by phosphate diet for next 4 weeks. Linalool was given orally at two different doses (100 mg/kg bodyweight and 150 mg/kg bodyweight) daily for 4 weeks with phosphate diet.

RESULTS

Linalool being a moderate antioxidant probably scavenged superoxide radicals (in vitro analysis). Deposition of calcium was observed by alizarin and von-kossa stains in aorta of uremic rats whereas linalool co-administration prevents calcium deposition in aorta of uremic rats. Elevated mRNA expression of calcification markers, increased lipid peroxidation levels and increased levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found in aorta of uremic animals. However, with supplementation of linalool reduction in the mRNA expression of calcification markers, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes were observed.

CONCLUSION

Therefore it can be concluded that linalool could be a promising therapeutic candidate for exploring its clinical application in VC.