Abstract
Epidemiological evidence shows that residential proximity to greenspaces is associated with lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; however, the mechanism(s) underlying this link remains unclear. Plants emit biogenic volatile organic compounds such as α-pinene that could elicit beneficial cardiovascular effects. To explore the role of α-pinene more directly, we studied the metabolism and the vascular effects of α-pinene. We found that exposure of mice to α-pinene (1 ppm, 6 h) generated two phase I oxidation metabolites, cis- and trans-verbenol [(1R,2R,5R)-verbenol and (1 R,2S,5R)-verbenol)] and myrtenol [(1S,5R)-(+)-myrtenol] that were identified in urine by GC-MS. Precontracted naïve murine male and female aorta and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were relaxed robustly (60% tension reduction) by increasing concentrations of α-pinene, myrtenol, and verbenol to 0.3 mM, whereas 1 mM α-pinene was vasotoxic. The SMA was six times more sensitive than the aorta to α-pinene. Both myrtenol and verbenol were equally potent and efficacious as parent α-pinene in male and female SMA. The sensitive portion of the α-pinene-, myrtenol-, and verbenol-induced relaxations in male SMA was mediated by 1) endothelium, 2) eNOS-derived NO, and 3) guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity. Moreover, α-pinene activated the transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) channel whereas the metabolites did not. Endothelial-derived NO regulates blood flow, blood pressure, and thrombosis, and it is plausible that inhaled (and ingested) α-pinene (or its metabolites) augments NO release to mediate the cardiovascular benefits of exposure to greenness.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A common plant-derived biogenic volatile organic compound, α-pinene, and two of its metabolites, myrtenol and verbenol, stimulate vasorelaxation in murine superior mesenteric artery. Both α-pinene- and its metabolites induce vasorelaxation by activation of the endothelium, nitric oxide, and guanylyl cyclase. α-Pinene also activates the transient receptor potential ankyrin-1. Positive associations between greenness exposure and human cardiovascular health may be a result of the vascular action of α-pinene and its metabolites, a novel consideration.