Erratum to “Vasorelaxant effects of Crataegus pentagyna: Links with arginase inhibition and phenolic profile” (Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2020) 252, (S0378874119337948), (10.1016/j.jep.2020.112559))

The Publisher regrets that a part of the abstract not missing in the published article. Below is the complete abstract: Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: Crataegus leaves, flowers and fruits have been traditionally used to improve blood circulation, numerous preclinical and clinical studies supporting the cardiovascular benefits of Crataegus preparations. In this respect, there is very limited data on Crataegus pentagyna; in addition, the chemical profile of this species is still incompletely elucidated. Aim of the study: The objective of this study was to examine the cardiovascular benefits of Crataegus pentagyna Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd. (small-flowered black hawthorn, Rosaceae) extracts (leaf, flower and fruit ethyl acetate extracts) and the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that C. pentagyna extracts might exert vasodilatory effects and inhibit arginase activity due, in large part, to their polyphenolic constituents. Materials and methods: C. pentagyna extracts induced-relaxation and the mechanisms involved were studied ex vivo in isolated aortic rings from Sprague-Dawley rats. The inhibitory effects on bovine liver arginase I were assessed by an in vitro assay. Metabolite profiling of C. pentagyna extracts was performed and the most important constituents were quantified. Results: Extracts of flowers, leaves and fruits of C. pentagyna relaxed endothelium-intact aortic rings with maximal effects exceeding 90% and EC₅₀ values of 7.1 ± 0.6, 3.9 ± 0.5 and 3.2 ± 0.3 μg/mL, respectively. All vasorelaxant effects were significantly reduced by endothelium removal and L-NAME. Flower extract-induced vasorelaxation was not suppressed by indomethacin and apamin in combination with charybdotoxin. In endothelium-denuded aortic rings, flower extract reduced extracellular Ca²⁺ influx and intracellular Ca²⁺ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, while aminopyridine, glibenclamide and iberiotoxin had no effect on flower extract induced-relaxation. All three extracts showed important arginase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 26.46 to 29.56 μg/mL. Flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids and proanthocyanidins were detected in all extracts with the predominance of chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids and epicatechin. Conclusion: All three C. pentagyna extracts exhibited vasorelaxant effects that proved to be mainly endothelium- and nitric oxide synthase-dependent; flower extract additionally reduced Ca²⁺ entry and, to a lesser extent, Ca²⁺ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. C. pentagyna proved to be an important source of arginase inhibitors with potential benefits in endothelial dysfunction that remains to be explored.