APIUM GRAVEOLENS L EXTRACT: Alternative Complementary Therapies to Decrease Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension is often mentioned as the silent killer because it is deadly without any symptoms. Along with the times, the world of health began to develop complementary therapies. Herbal medicines received considerable attention as complementary medicines in the world because of their cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, and therapeutic potential against various diseases. Apium graveolens L and several other plants have been recognized as plants who’s the pharmacological effects can treat diseases such as hypertension. The purpose of this research was to analyse the effect of Apium graveolens L Extract to decrease hypertension. The type of this research used quasi-experimental with pre-post test with control group design. The population in this research were all elderly people suffering from hypertension in Tambak Agung Village, Puri District, Mojokerto Regency. The samples were obtained by using the purposive sampling technique. With inclusion criteria, including: 1) Hypertensive patients, 2) Age 55 years old, 3) Blood pressure up to 140 mmHg / 90 mmHg, 4) Willing to be a respondent. The processed data was analyzed to determine the effect of Apium graveolens L Extract on decreasing hypertension in the elderly. The data were analyzed using a statistical test Paired sample test T-Test with SPSS 23 for windows. At the significance level <0.05, H0 is rejected or H1 is accepted, meaning that Apium graveolens L extract decreases hypertension in the elderly. Apium graveolens L extract effectively decrease blood pressure by regularly consuming it. Because the Apigenin content contained in Apium graveolens L (celery) can prevent constriction of blood vessels and Phthalides which can relax artery muscles or relax blood vessels.