Evaluation of antihypertensive effects of Ophioglossum vulgatum: in silico and in vivo evidence in spontaneously hypertensive

This study investigated and evaluated the antihypertensive effects and mechanisms of Ophioglossum vulgatum(OV) through a combination of computational simulations and in vivo experiments.Initially, an in silico analysis using network pharmacology was employed to identify target proteins, followed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Network pharmacology data indicated that OV may influence several pathways involved in blood pressure regulation. Molecular docking revealed the effective targets of OV, showing that some of its major active compounds could potentially bind directly to the active sites of angiotensin receptors and calcium channel proteins. In vivo experiments demonstrated that administration of 20 mg/kg crude OV extract to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) significantly reduced mean blood pressure by 31.53% within 60 min, alleviating hypertensive symptoms. Based on our in silico and in vivo evidence, the rapid antihypertensive effects of OV may be related to its action on the RAS and calcium channels, leading to vasodilation.These acute antihypertensive effects suggest that OV has the potential to be a candidate for blood pressure medication, particularly for urgent blood pressure reduction, and an effective antihypertensive agent in plant-based medicine. This study investigated and evaluated the antihypertensive effects and mechanisms of Ophioglossum vulgatum(OV) through a combination of computational simulations and in vivo experiments. Initially, an in silico analysis using network pharmacology was employed to identify target proteins, followed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Network pharmacology data indicated that OV may influence several pathways involved in blood pressure regulation. Molecular docking revealed the effective targets of OV, showing that some of its major active compounds could potentially bind directly to the active sites of angiotensin receptors and calcium channel proteins. In vivo experiments demonstrated that administration of 20 mg/kg crude OV extract to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) significantly reduced mean blood pressure by 31.53% within 60 min, alleviating hypertensive symptoms. Based on our in silico and in vivo evidence, the rapid antihypertensive effects of OV may be related to its action on the RAS and calcium channels, leading to vasodilation. These acute antihypertensive effects suggest that OV has the potential to be a candidate for blood pressure medication, particularly for urgent blood pressure reduction, and an effective antihypertensive agent in plant-based medicine.