Effect of ethanolic extract of Physalis minima on lowering blood pressure in DOCA-salts hypertensive rat models

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of ethanolic extract of Physalis minima on lowering blood pressure in the DOCA-salts hypertensive rats.METHODS To produce hypertension,male rats were induced DOCA at dose of 10mg·kg-1 ip.twice weekly and 0.9% NaCl in drinking water ad libitum for six weeks.The ethanolic extract of Physalis minima were given at dose of 500,1500 and 2500mg·kg-1,respectively for 4weeks.After completion of treatment schedule,systolic blood pressure was evaluated using animal blood pressure analyzer.The serum nitric oxide levels was measured using the ELISA methods.SOD activity and MDA level were determined spectrophotometrically.Endothelial dysfunction was determined by acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation studies on isolated rat aortas.RESULTS The extract decreased systolic blood pressure significantly(P<0.001)in hypertensive rats.In addition,the extract also suppressed the production of MDA and restored SOD activity to normal level.There was a reduced relaxation response to acetylcholine in isolated aortic rings and serum NO level from hypertensive rats that were reversed by extract.CONCLUSION Physalis minima can lower blood pressure in hypertensive rats and its mechanism may be through the improvement of endothelial function due to the decrease of stress oxidative.