Abstract
BackgroundA compound herbal formulation (POL4) has been used in the indigenous system of medicine to treat cardiometabolic disorders like diabetes and associated hypertension. POL4 and most of its constituents have not been studied widely for its therapeutic use in hypertension. This study is aimed to determine the efficacy and possible insight into mechanism(s) for the medicinal use of POL4 and its ingredients in hypertension.MethodsThe aqueous methanolic extracts of POL4 (POL4.Cr) and its components [Cichorium intybus (Ci.Cr), Gymnema sylvestre (Gs.Cr), Nigella sativa (Ns.Cr) and Trigonella foenum graecum (Tfg.Cr)] were tested for blood pressure lowering activity in anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. To assess the vasomodulatory effect, isolated tissue experiments were performed on rat aortic strips using isometric force transducer coupled with PowerLab data acquisition system.ResultsAdministration of POL4 to rats caused a dose-dependent (1–100 mg/kg) fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP) with maximum effect of 85.33 ± 1.76% at 100 mg/kg, similar to the effect of verapamil. All ingredients of POL4 also decreased blood pressure with varying efficacy in following order Ns.Cr ≅ Ci.Cr > Tfg.Cr > Gs.Cr. In rat aortic preparations, POL4 and its ingredients inhibited K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions, Ci.Cr was the most potent followed by Ns.Cr > Tfg.Cr > Gs.Cr ≅ POL4. Against phenylephrine (P.E) contractions, Ci.Cr and Tfg.Cr exhibited complete relaxation, while POL4.Cr, Gs.Cr and Ns.Cr showed vasomodulatory effect. The Ca++ antagonist activity was confirmed when POL4 and its ingredients shifted Ca++ concentrations-response curves to the right in a manner similar to that of verapamil. On baseline of rat aorta, the parent formulation and its ingredients (except Tfg.Cr) exhibited partially phentolamine (1 μM)-sensitive vasoconstriction.ConclusionThese data show that POL4 and its constituents possess blood pressure lowering activity mediated through inhibition of Ca++ influx via membranous Ca++ channels and receptor (α-adrenergic) operated pathways. Thus, this study provides a rationale to the medicinal use of POL4 and its constituents in hypertension.
Highlights
A compound herbal formulation (POL4) has been used in the indigenous system of medicine to treat cardiometabolic disorders like diabetes and associated hypertension
The filtrates were air dried and the respective percentage yields were calculated for the crude extracts of polyherbal formulation POL4.Cr (16% w/w), C. intybus, Ci.Cr (11% w/w), G. sylvestre, Gs.Cr (18% w/w), N. sativa, Ns.Cr (12% w/w) and T. foenum graecum, Tfg.Cr (17.5% w/w)
While flavonoids were found highest in T. foenum graecum followed by Gs.Cr > POL4.Cr > Ci.Cr > Ns.Cr (Table 1)
Summary
A compound herbal formulation (POL4) has been used in the indigenous system of medicine to treat cardiometabolic disorders like diabetes and associated hypertension. POL4 and most of its constituents have not been studied widely for its therapeutic use in hypertension. Treating chronic disorders like hypertension or diabetes, the herbal remedies are considered relatively safe, affordable and accessible. In our settings due to cultural acceptance, people prefer to use herbal remedies for the treatment of various chronic ailments like gastrointestinal [12], respiratory tract [13], endocrine (diabetes) [14] and cardiovascular disorders [15]. Despite using individual herbs to treat different ailments, there are multiple evidences supporting therapeutic use of compound formulations in the treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia. Br., Nigella sativa L., and Trigonella foenum graecum L.) is popular for its medicinal use in cardiometabolic disorders, no study is available to rationalize its medical use in cardiometabolic disorders like hypertension
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