Anais do Simpósio Latino Americano de Ciências de Alimentos
Anais do 13º Simpósio Latino Americano de Ciência de Alimentos

Peppers are popular as spices and vegetable foods with a remarkable source of antioxidants so the consumption can provide benefits to human health (Rosa et al, 2002). The major components in pepper’s extract like naga extract are capsaicin. Previous study shown the vasorelaxant effect of capsaicin in aorta rings (Hopps et al, 2011). Considering this information about vascular effects of peppers, this study investigated the vasorelaxant activity and antioxidant capacity of naga’s extract. To evaluate the antioxidant capacity and vasorelaxant activity of Capsicum chinense Jacq (Naga) in thoracic aorta from Wistar rats. The hydroethanolic (50%) extracts were freeze-dried and stocked in freezer for further analysis. The evaluation of antioxidant power was performed the DPPH and ABTS tests. The vasorelaxant effect of capsaicin and Naga was evaluated in preparations of thoracic aorta rings of male Wistar rats 10 weeks old, using organ chambers. Curve concentration effect (CCE) of capsaicin and hydroethanolic extracts of Naga (10-6 -10-2 g/mL) was constructed in the endothelium-intact and -denuded rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (10-6 M), also in preparation on absence or presence of L-NAME (nonspecific inhibitor of NO synthase, 10-4 M). The results are presented as mean ± SEM for the concentration–response curves, the maximal effect and the concentration that produced 50% of the maximal response, were calculated using nonlinear regression analysis. A value of p <0.05 was considered. All protocols were approved by the Animal Research Ethical Committee from Federal University of Goias (process 20/2013). The results shown that Naga has a great potential antioxidant. For Emax effect obtained with CCE of Naga show the vasorelaxant effect dependent and independent of endothelium and this effect participates of the eNOS pathway. For CCE of Naga and capsaicin in the absence or presence of L-NAME shown that Naga were different when was compared with capsaicin effect.