Description
Olmesartan medoxomil is an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) inhibitor that inhibits negative regulatory feedback on renin secretion, decreasing secretion of aldosterone and resulting in decreased peripheral vascular resistance (vasodilation). This compound exhibits antihypertensive, cardioprotective, vasodilatory, and anti-inflammatory activities. Due to this action, olmesartan increases cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve capacity in hypertensive stroke patients. Additionally, this compound improves cardiac function through activation of the DLL4/Notch1 signaling pathway in animal models of chronic cardiac pressure overload. Olmesartan also inhibits activation of apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) in animal models of diabetes, attenuating cardiac inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction.