Characterization of the potential antihypertensive activity of Aster pseudoglehnii leaf extracts

Chronic hypertension is closely associated with oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, both of which contribute to cardiovascular disease development. This study evaluated the potential antihypertensive and vasoprotective effects of Aster pseudoglehnii leaf extract and identified its major bioactive metabolites. Dried leaves were extracted with 70% ethanol and fractionated into two subfractions (F1 and F2) using preparative liquid chromatography. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated by measuring total phenolic and flavonoid contents, DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity, while angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was assessed to determine antihypertensive potential. F2 exhibited stronger antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities than F1. In EA.hy926 endothelial cells, F2 suppressed inflammatory adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation through phosphorylation. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed enrichment of cynarine, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and lysophosphatidylglycerol (16:0) in F2. These findings indicate that F2 exerts potential antihypertensive effects through coordinated antioxidant and endothelial-protective mechanisms.