Masoprocol lowers blood pressure in rats with fructose-induced hypertension

Rats with fructose-induced hypertension were treated by oral gavage with either masoprocol (nordihydroguaiaretic acid) or vehicle. Masoprocol treatment resulted in significantly (P< .05 to .001) lower values for systolic blood pressure (120 ± 3 v 164 ± 5 mm Hg), as well as plasma insulin (30 ± 5 v 44 ± 4 μU/mL), free fatty acid (551 ± 20 v 692 ± 22 μEq/L), and triglyceride (79 ± 5 v 219 ± 32 mg/dL) concentrations. These results indicate that masoprocol, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, is able to lower blood pressure, as well as improve the metabolic abnormalities present in a rodent model of hypertension that simulates the characteristic of many patients with essential hypertension.