acute and chronic effects of prangos ferulacea hydroalcoholic extract on normal and high blood pressure induced by l-name and its mechanism of action in male rats

Background: some studies have shown therapeutic properties of prangos ferulacea, but its effect on blood pressure (bp) is unidentified. objectives: so acute and chronic feeding effects of p. ferulacea on bp and its mechanism were evaluated in male rats. methods: hydroalcoholic extract of p. ferulacea (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) was injected intravenously and mean arterial bp and heart rate were measured. the mechanism of effect of the extract on bp was evaluated by intraperitoneal administration of l-name, atropine or indomethacin (4, 1, and 5 mg/kg, respectively) and then intravenous injection of extract (50 mg/kg). in addition, the extract (500 mg/kg/day) was given orally in l-name (40 mg/kg/day)-induced hypertensive rats during 4 weeks. then anxiety behaviors and bp were assessed. results: intravenous p. ferulacea reduced bp significantly (p < 0.01). there was a significant difference between the effect of 12.5 and 50 mg/kg of extract (p < 0.001). the effect of hypotension of the extract was eliminated by atropine and decreased by l-name. chronic administration of l-name increased bp from 112 mmhg in the control group to 149 in hypertensive rats (p < 0.01), while the oral extract in these rats reduced bp to 119 mmhg (p < 0.01). the p. ferulacea had no effect on heart rate and anxiety behaviors in normal and hypertensive rats. conclusions: intravenous p. ferulacea reduces bp, which may be via the muscarinic receptor. oral p. ferulacea prevents bp augmentation induced by l-name. the p. ferulacea seems to be useful for prophylaxis of hypertension.