Abstract
Untreated hypertension is a major cause for a wide array of diseases affecting cardiovascular system. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development of hypertension. The impairment between the balance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants contributes to the elevation of blood pressure. Over generation of free radicals produces a decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide. Eventually, this will cause a rise in total peripheral resistance and lead to endothelial dysfunction. Noticeable symptoms are usually experienced when hypertension enters the advanced stage with lifelong health complications. Hypertensive patients are required to take medications for indefinite period of time to prevent further deterioration. Many of these therapeutic agents are costly and associated with unwanted side effects. Curcuma longa (CL) or turmeric is one of the alternative herbs which confers medicinal properties. This review aims to summarise the effects of CL and its active constituents on blood pressure derived from preclinical and clinical published articles. Studies documented that CL and its active constituents could reduce blood pressure. These were achieved by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, calcium (II) ion concentration interference, β2-adrenergic receptor activation, and renin-angiotensin system inhibition. There is a prospect for CL in the management of hypertension. However, limited researches of CL have been conducted on human. Thus, more well-planned studies should be carried out to ascertain its effectiveness.
Highlights
High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is considered as the prevalent risk factor for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiac failure.[1,2] One of the major health challenges in developing and developed nations today is the high incidence and rapidly growing problem of hypertension, especially among the elderly; with increased risk of all-cause mortality.[3,4]
According to the Eight Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 8), a person who is diagnosed of having hypertension has been redefine to have systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 130 and 139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ranging 80 to 89 mm Hg.[5]
This new threshold would lead to more people to be categorised as having hypertension compared to the previous BP reading in JNC 7, 140 to 159 mm Hg and 90 to 99 mm Hg for SBP and DBP, respectively.[6]
Summary
8-week-old male SHR 8- to 10-week old male Wistar normotensive rats 12-week-old male Wistar rats treated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) male SpragueDawley rats treated with L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day). Male SpragueDawley rats treated with L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks 2K-1C male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male Wistar rats treated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) for 10 days 30-week-old male Wistar-Kyo to rats and SHR adult male albino Wistar rats turmeric aqueous extract 4% for 14 days (p.o.) demethoxycurcumin 10 mg/kg /day (i.p.) curcumin 60 mg/kg/day 120 mg/kg/day (i.p.). Intra-arterial: Carotid artery Microvascular pressure: Servo-nulling pressure system in brain no effect on SBP ↓ MAP (dosedependent). 8-week-old male C57BI/6J mice treated with Ang II (490 ng/ min/kg) curcumin 300 mg/kg /day (p.o.). Symbol indicates: ↓, decrease Abbreviations: 2K-1C, 2 kidney-1 clip; Ang II, angiotensin II; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; i.g., intragastric; i.p., intraperitoneal; i.v., intravenous; L-NAME, Nù-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride; MAP, mean arterial pressure; NA, data not available; p.o., per os; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SHR, spontaneously hypertensive rat; THC, tetrahydrocurcumin
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