1 Laboratory of Biotechnology Research Environment and Health, Doctoral School of Engineering Living and Modeling, Faculty of Sciences Technology and Environment, University of Mahajanga, Madagascar.
2 Department of Pharmacology, Sciences Faculty, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 33(02), 145-152.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2025.33.2.0440
Received on 29 September 2025; revised on 08 November 2025; accepted on 10 November 2025
Passiflora edulis leaves are used traditionally in Madagascar for the treatment of various ailments including hypertension. This study was carried out to investigate the vasodilatory mechanism of a bioactive molecule isolated from P. edulis leaves “6,8-diméthyhexadecane” (D65). It was tested using isolated rat thoracic aorta contracted with norepinephrine at 1µM. Its mechanism of action was investigated using isolated thoracic aorta with endothelium and endothelium free. Involvement of prostacylin in vasodilation induced with D65 was investigated by pre incubating the organ in a bath containing indomethacin. The results indicate that D65 relaxes organ pre contracted with norepinephrine with EC50 of 1.74.10-7 M. Its vasodilating action is endothelium dependent. Pre incubating the organ in bath containing atropine before contracting with norepinephrine decreases the value of pD₂ from 6.77 in the absence of atropine to 6.62, 6.53, and 6.41 in the presence of atropine at 10⁻⁶, 10⁻⁵, and 10⁻⁴ M, respectively (p < 0.05). Pre incubating the organ in a bath containing indomethacin in concentrations of 10⁻⁷, 10⁻⁶, and 10⁻⁵ M decreases respectively the pD₂ from 6.74 in the absence of indomethacin to 6.61, 6.49 and 6.44 in the presence of indomethacin (p < 0.05).
Our results demonstrate that D65 induces vasodilation by mechanisms that involve prostacyclin signalling pathways. These findings indicate that this molecule has therapeutic potential in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Passiflora edulis; Leaves; Vasodilation; Prostacyclin
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Miora Diane RASOLOFONIAINA RANDRIAMPAMELONA, Jean François RAJAONARISON, Donné Yodan RALAHIRAVO, Soaviherimbola Delore RAZAFIMAHAZORO, Nathaniel QUANSAH and Patricia RANDRIANAVONY. Vasorelaxant effect of “6,8-diméthylhexadecane” isolated from Passiflora edulis (PASSIFLORACEAE) leaves in isolated rat thoracic aorta. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 33(2), 145-152. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2025.33.2.0440