The Effect of Acute Administration of Artemisia Persia Extracts on Arterial Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Rats

Problem statement: Artemisia Persia (AP) used for its therapeutic effects in folk medicine whiles some species of Artemisia shown a hypotensive effect. To determine the cardiovascular effect of AP, we tested the pharmacological responses of aqueous and methanolic extracts of AP on blood pressure (BP) and Heart Rate (HR) of normotensive and ephedrine induced hypertensive rats using a tail-cuff computerized registering device. Approach: Hypertension was produced by single dose of ephedrine (40 mg kg-1 IM-1) to raise BP 20-30 mmHg. Animals were fed with different concentrations of each extracts (300, 400 and 500 mg kg-1) by gavage method. BP and HR were recorded before and during 40 min following aqueous and methanolic extracts administrations in 5 min intervals. Results: The most effective concentration of both extracts to reduced systolic BP of normotensive rats was 400 mg kg-1 after 20 min consumption (p<0.005), while none of administrated doses affected diastolic BP or HR. The efficacy of extracts was tested in hypertensive rats and the results were compared with the effect of enalapril (30 mg kg-1). Conclusions/Recommendations: Oral consumption of AP extracts after 20 min reduced systolic BP in normotensive and hypertensive rats,while the aqueous extract of AP reduced the BP of hypertensive rats more effectively than enalapril. Hence precaution should be taken when this herb is consumed as a remedy.