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Infused juice concentrate of Japanese plum Prunus mume attenuates inflammatory vascular remodeling in a mouse model of hypertension induced by angiotensin II

Hypertension Research volume 46, pages 1923–1933 (2023)Cite this article

A Comment to this article was published on 02 August 2023

Abstract

Fruit from the Prunus mume tree is a traditional food in Japan. Recently, bainiku-ekisu, an infused juice concentrate of Japanese Prunus mume, is attracting attention as a health promoting supplement. Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a central role in development of hypertension. It has been reported that bainiku-ekisu treatment attenuates the growth-promoting signaling induced by Ang II in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, whether bainiku-ekisu has any effect on an animal model of hypertension remains unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the potential anti-hypertensive benefit of bainiku-ekisu utilizing a mouse model of hypertension with Ang II infusion. Male C57BL/6 mice were infused with Ang II for 2 weeks and given 0.1% bainiku-ekisu containing water or normal water for 2 weeks with blood pressure evaluation. After 2 weeks, mice were euthanized, and the aortas were collected for evaluation of remodeling. Aortic medial hypertrophy was observed in control mice after Ang II infusion, which was attenuated in bainiku-ekisu group with Ang II infusion. Bainiku-ekisu further attenuated aortic induction of collagen producing cells and immune cell infiltration. Development of hypertension induced by Ang II was also prevented by bainiku-ekisu. Echocardiograph indicated protection of Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy by bainiku-ekisu. In vascular fibroblasts, bainiku-ekisu attenuated vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 induction, an endoplasmic reticulum stress marker, inositol requiring enzyme-1α phosphorylation, and enhancement in glucose consumption in response to Ang II. In conclusion, Bainiku-ekisu prevented Ang II-induced hypertension and inflammatory vascular remodeling. Potential cardiovascular health benefit to taking bainiku-ekisu should be further studied.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Katherine J Elliott for critical comments.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grant (RO1HL128324 to SE) and a research gift fund from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Japan.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Keisuke Okuno, Keiichi Torimoto, Ryohei Kuroda

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Keisuke Okuno, Keiichi Torimoto, Ryohei Kuroda, Stephanie M. Cicalese & Satoru Eguchi

  2. National Institute of Technology, Wakayama College, Gobo, Japan

    Yoshiharu Okuno

  3. Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Kaizuka, Osaka, Japan

    Ryohei Kono & Hirotoshi Utsunomiya

  4. Kindai University, Osaka, Japan

    Shinsuke Marumoto

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  1. Keisuke Okuno
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Correspondence to Hirotoshi Utsunomiya or Satoru Eguchi.

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Okuno, K., Torimoto, K., Kuroda, R. et al. Infused juice concentrate of Japanese plum Prunus mume attenuates inflammatory vascular remodeling in a mouse model of hypertension induced by angiotensin II. Hypertens Res 46, 1923–1933 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01332-9

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