European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AND DIURETIC ACTION OF ADATHODAI ILAI CHOORANAM - A SIDDHA MONO-HERBAL FORMULATION

S. Selvakumar*, S. Visweshwaran, S. Sivakumar, A. Mariappan and S. Ushakanthan

ABSTRACT

Aqueous extract of Adhathodai Ilai Chooranam (Adhathoda vasica leaf powder) was evaluated for its antihypertensive activity in renal artery occluded hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) randomly divided into six groups (n = 6) were pretreated with aqueous extract of Adhathodai Ilai Chooranam for 6 weeks. Hypertension was induced in animals by clamping the renal artery with renal bulldog clamp for 4 h. Ischemia of the kidneys causes elevation of blood pressure by activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Elevated blood pressure of the animals was significantly (p <0.O5) decreased by the administration of of ALC at dose levels of 250, 500, 1000mg/Kg i.v. Captopril (angiotensin converter enzyme inhibitor ACE-I at the dose of 1mg/kg showed significant (p <0.O5) reduction in the elevated blood pressure. Also, Adathodai Ilai Chooranam at 500 and 1000 mg/Kg showed significant increase in urine volume as well as sodium and chloride and with mild potassium sparing effect.

Keywords: Adhathodai Ilai Chooranam, Adhathoda vasica, Traditional medicine, Herbal medicine.