Epicatechin prevents preeclampsia-associated hypertension and oxidative stress

Preeclampsia (PE) is a frequent and dangerous multisystemic pregnancy complication, associated with blood pressure control. Some antioxidants, including chocolate-derived epicatechin, can effectively attenuate hypertensive disorders.

This study aimed to assess whether epicatechin or dark chocolate (DC) could revert vascular increased reactivity and oxidative stress, both features of an experimental PE model.

Rats from healthy pregnant or PE groups received vehicle, epicatechin (10 mg/kg/day) po, or DC (1 g) po, administered on days 1-14 (early) or days 7-21(late) of pregnancy. Blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff plethysmography method. Aorta contractility was evaluated using a conventional isolated organ bath, and oxidative stress was determined by nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced (NADPH) serum activity.

Epicatechin and DC significantly reduced hypertension, decreased abdominal aorta contractility, and decreased NADPH activity of the PE animals. The effects were more evident when administered during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy.

Results suggest that epicatechin has a significant antihypertensive effect in PE mediated by an antioxidant activity that improves vascular contractility.