Cardiovascular diseases include all types of disorders related to the heart or blood vessels. High blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiac complications and pathological disorders. An increase in circulating angiotensin-II is a potent stimulus for the expression of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines that activate oxidative stress, perpetuating a deleterious effect in hypertension. Studies demonstrate the capacity of NO to prevent platelet or leukocyte activation and adhesion and inhibition of proliferation, as well as to modulate inflammatory or anti-inflammatory reactions and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. However, in conditions of low availability of NO, such as during hypertension, these processes are impaired. Currently, there is great interest in the development of compounds capable of releasing NO in a modulated and stable way. Accordingly, compounds containing metal ions coupled to NO are being investigated and are widely recognized as having great relevance in the treatment of different diseases. Therefore, the exogenous administration of NO is an attractive and pharmacological alternative in the study and treatment of hypertension. The present review summarizes the role of nitric oxide in hypertension, focusing on the role of new NO donors, particularly the metal-based drugs and their protagonist activity in vascular function.

The consumption of ultra-processed foods plays an important role in the development of obesity and hypertension. The present study investigated the association between consumption of food according to the degree of processing and anthropometric indicators of obesity and blood pressure in children. This is a cross-sectional study with 164 children aged 7–10 years. The body mass index (BMI) for age, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was evaluated. Food consumption was analyzed by three 24-h dietary recalls, and classified as: G1—unprocessed or minimally processed; G2—culinary ingredients and processed food; and G3—ultra-processed food. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations among variables. The average energy consumption was 1762.76 kcal/day, split into 45.42%, 10.88%, and 43.70%, provided by G1, G2, and G3, respectively. Adjusted linear regression analyses identified that the caloric contribution of G1 was inversely associated with DBP, showing that for each 10% increase in the energy intake of minimally processed foods, there was a reduction of 0.96 mmHg in the DBP (β:−0.10; 95% CI:−0.19 to −0.01; r² = 0.20). There was no association between the caloric contribution of food groups and BMI, WC, WHtR, and SBP. Increasing consumption of G1 could be a strategy for the prevention and treatment of hypertension in schoolchildren.

Hyptis martiusii Benth. is an aromatic plant found in abundance in northeastern Brazil that is used in ethnomedicine to treat gastric disorders. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of action involved in the gastroprotection of the essential oil of Hyptis martiusii (EOHM) and to evaluate its healing capacity. Wistar rats were exposed to different protocols and subsequently were treated with 1% Tween-80 aqueous solution (negative control), pantoprazole, carbenoxolone, N-acetylcysteine (depending on the specificity of each model) or EOHM. The antisecretory activity (basal or stimulated) was determined using the pyloric ligature method. The gastroprotective action of nitric oxide and sulphydryl groups (–SH groups), as well as the quantification of adherent mucus and the levels of malondialdehyde and –SH groups in gastric mucosa, were evaluated using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. The healing ability was evaluated using the acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model and histological and immunohistochemical analysis (HE, PAS and PCNA). EOHM (400 mg/kg) reduced the volume and acidity of gastric secretion stimulated by histamine and pentagastrin. The gastroprotective effect of EOHM involves the participation of endogenous sulfhydryl groups. EOHM increased mucus production (54.8%), reduced levels of MDA (72.5%) and prevented the depletion of –SH groups (73.8%) in the gastric mucosa. The treatment with EOHM reduced in 70.3% the gastric lesion area, promoting significant regeneration of the gastric mucosa, as confirmed by histological analysis and analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The results show that gastroprotective effect of EOHM is mediated by cytoprotective and antioxidant mechanisms and by their antisecretory activity, and suggest that the essential oil of Hyptis martiusii is a promising candidate for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Adrenoceptors are the receptors for catecholamines, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. They are divided in α (α₁ and α₂) and β (β₁, β₂ and β₃). α₁-adrenoceptors are subdivided in α_1A, α_1B and α_1D. Most tissues express mixtures of α₁-adrenoceptors subtypes, which appear to coexist in different densities and ratios, and in most cases, their responses are probably due to the activation of more than one type. The three subtypes of α₁-adrenoceptors are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), specifically coupled to G_q/11. Additionally, the activation of these receptors may activate other signaling pathways or different components of these pathways, which leads to a great variety of possible cellular effects. The first clinically used α1 antagonist was Prazosin for Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH). It was followed by its congeners, Terazosin and Doxazosin. Nowadays, there are many classes of α-adrenergic antagonists with different selectivity profiles. In addition to SAH, the α₁-adrenoceptors are used to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and urolithiasis. This antagonism may be part of the mechanism of action of tricyclic antidepressants. Moreover, the activation of these receptors may lead to adverse effects such as orthostatic hypotension, similar to what happens with antidepressants and with some antipsychotics. Structure-activity relationships can explain, in part, how antagonists work and how selective they can be for each one of the subtypes. However, it is necessary to develop new molecules which antagonize the α₁- adrenoceptors or make chemical modifications in these molecules to improve the selectivity and pharmacokinetic profile and/or reduce the adverse effects of known drugs.