Hesperidin inhibits L-NAME-induced vascular and renal alterations in rats by suppressing the renin-angiotensin system, transforming growth factor-β1, and oxidative stress.

The protective effect of hesperidin on vascular and renal alterations and possible underlying mechanisms involved in N -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats were investigated in this study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day), L-NAME plus hesperidin (30 mg/kg/day), and L-NAME plus captopril (2.5 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. Hesperidin and captopril significantly prevented L-NAME-induced hypertension, vascular and renal dysfunction, intrarenal artery remodelling, glomerular extracellular matrix accumulation, and renal fibrosis. The preventive treatment with hesperidin and captopril also significantly decreased serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and plasma transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels and downregulated angiotensin II receptor type I and TGF-β1 protein expression in the kidneys. In addition, decreased malondialdehyde levels and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the plasma and kidney were observed after co-treatment with hesperidin or captopril. These findings suggest that hesperidin inhibits L-NAME-induced vascular and renal alterations in rats. The possible mechanism may be related to the suppression of the activation of the renin-angiotensin system and expression of TGF-β1, and reduction of oxidative stress.