Antihypertensive effects of Gynura procumbens extract in spontaneously hypertensive rats

J Med Food. 2006 Winter;9(4):587-90. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2006.9.587.

Abstract

Aqueous extracts of Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. were orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats for 4 weeks, and antihypertensive effects were determined. Oral administration of 500 mg/kg of G. procumbens (Lour.) Merr. extract (GPE) resulted in significantly lower blood pressure in SHR rats compared with SHR rats not given GPE (P < .05). Furthermore, GPE-administered rats had significantly lower serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphate kinase, and increased nitric oxide (NO), a known vasodilator, compared with the non-GPE-administered SHR group (P < .05). These results suggest that oral administration of aqueous GPE may be useful for prevention and treatment of hypertension through increasing NO production in blood vessels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asteraceae / chemistry*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Male
  • Nitric Oxide / blood
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred SHR
  • Systole

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Nitric Oxide
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Creatine Kinase