THE EFFECTS OF J. GENDARUSSA AND WEEDS ON HYPERTENSIVE RATS: NITRATE AND ENDOTHELINE-1 EVALUATIONS

Abstract

Traditionally shrub and weeds were applied as therapeutic agents for many diseases including hypertensive condition. The present study evaluated the effects of the combination of a shrub ‒‒ Justicia gendarussa and weeds namely Imperata cylindrica  and Centenella asiatica (JIC)  on hypertensive rats by measuring nitrate and endothelin-1 in serum or arterial tissue. Two groups of male wistar rats were weekly subcutanous injected with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) at initial dose of 20 mg/Kg BW for three weeks and continued by 15 mg/Kg BW for 6 weeks, meanwhile the rats were free access to 50 ml of 1% NaCl /day. The procedure induced hypertensive condition (>120 mmHg). The hypertensive rats were treated with decoction-extract and infusion-extract of JIC respectively for 4 weeks. Serum and arterial tissue of nitrate were determined by colorimetric assay based on Greiss reaction. Serum endotheline-1 was measured by indirect ELISA.The JIC reduced serum endotheline-1and nirate (p<0.05) as well as arterial tissue nitrate (p<0.05). It was concluded the combination of J. gendarussa, I. cylindrica, and C. asiatica significantly reduced endotheline-1 and nitrate of serum or arterial tissue. Accordingly the results encouraged to develope the combination of JIC as antihypertensive agent.

Keywords:Endotheline-1, Nitrate, Justicia gendarussa, Imperata Cylindrica, Centenella asiatica.