Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract from Crocus Sativus in Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II.

OBJECTIVES

Angiotensin II (AngII), a major product of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has important role in induction of hypertension and antihypertensive effect of several medicinal plant was mediated by effect on this agent. Therefore, this study examined the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract of on hypertension induced by AngII.

METHODS

Six groups (n = 6) of rats were used as follow: 1) Control, 2) AngII (300 ng/kg), 3) Losartan (Los, 10 mg/kg) + AngII and 4-6) extract (10, 20 & 40 mg/kg,) + AngII. The femoral artery and vein were cannulated for recording cardiovascular parameters and drugs administration, respectively. All drugs were injected intravenously (i.v). Los and all doses of injected 10 min before AngII. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded throughout the experiment and those peak changes (Δ) were calculated and compared to control and AngII.

RESULTS

AngII significantly increased ΔMAP, ΔSBP and ΔHR than control (P < 0. 01 to P < 0.001) and these increments were significantly attenuated by Los. All doses of significantly reduced peak ΔMAP, ΔSBP, and ΔHR than AngII group (P < 0. 05 to P < 0.001). In addition, peak ΔMAP, ΔSBP in doses 10 and 20 were significant than Los + AngII group (P < 0.05 to P< 0.01) but in dose 40 only MAP was significant (P < 0.05). Peak ΔHR in all doses of C sativus was not significant than Los+ AngII.

CONCLUSION

Regarding the improving effect of the extract on AngII induced hypertension, it seems that this ameliorating effect partly mediated through inhibition of RAS.