Influence of Ohta’s Isan and its Ingredients on Blood Pressure in Rats

Abstract

We have investigated the chronic effects of Ohta’s Isan and its ingredients on blood pressure in normotensive and uninephrectomized rats. Ohta’s Isan and sodium bicarbonate had no significant effect on blood pressure in normotensive rats. Sodium bicarbonate at a dose of 625 mg/kg/day accelerated a slow increase in blood pressure on uninephrectomized rats given 1% saline drinking water, while Ohta’s Isan and its plant components had no influence on blood pressure. The plant components, as well as Ohta’s Isan, inhibited an increase in blood pressure on uninephrectomized rats chronically fed diets rich in sodium bicarbonate with 1% saline drinking water, while antacids had no influence on blood pressure. These results elucidate that the chronic administration of Ohta’s Isan may not be associated with the development of hypertension, but its plant components may play a role in protection against the aggravation of hypertension induced by sodium overload, in addition to the intended effects on the gastrointestinal tract.