Description
Benidipineisalong-lastingdihydropyridinecalciumchannelblocker.ItsantihypertensiveactivityinvolvestheinhibitionofCa(2+)influxthroughL-typevoltagedependentcalciumchannelsandtheABIlitytorestoreendothelialfunction.ItpreventslysoPC-inducedcaspase-3activationthroughstimulationofNOreleasetherebyexertsitsanti-apoptosisactiononendothelialcells.BenidipineincreasesthemaximalactivityofERK1/2buthasnosignificanteffectonp38MARK,decreasesmitochondrialcytochromecrelease,andreducescaspase-9activation.BenidipinewasshowntohaveantioxidanteffectinreducinghydroxylrADIcalsformationandPKC-dependentNOproduction.Itinhibits[3H]thymidineincorporationintovascularsmoothmusclecells(VSMCs),anindicationofitsanti-proliferativeeffectswhichmaybeusefulforthetreatmentofrestenosisfollowingangioplastyandatherosclerosisdamages.