Sesame oil therapeutically ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy by regulating hypokalemia in hypertensive rats

Background: Hypokalemia and hypertension are common manifestations of preclinical cardiovascular conditions that have a predictive value for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiac hypertrophy, an important risk factor in heart failure, is attributed to long-term hypokalemia and hypertension. Sesame oil is rich in nutrients and possesses potent antihypertensive activities. Methods: We investigated the therapeutic potential of sesame oil using a hypertensive model created by subcutaneously injecting deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA; 15 mg/mL/kg in mineral oil; twice weekly for 5 weeks) and supplementing with 1% sodium chloride drinking water (DOCA/salt) to uninephrectomized rats. Sesame oil was administered by oral gavage (0.5 or 1 mL/kg/d for 7 days) after 4 weeks of DOCA/salt treatment. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), electrocardiography (ECG), and K+ and Mg2+ levels were assessed 24 hours after the last dose of sesame oil. Heart tissue was collected for histologic analysis. Results: Sesame oil effectively reduced the SBP/DBP and ECG abnormalities and increased the serum levels of K+ and Mg2+ while limiting the urinary excretion of K+ in DOCA/salt-induced hypertensive rats. In addition, sesame oil decreased the heart mass, the thickness of the left ventricle, and the diameter of cardiomyocytes, indicating the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in the hypertensive rats. Conclusion: We demonstrate that sesame oil therapeutically ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy by regulating hypokalemia in hypertensive rats.