title: Fraxinus excelsior L. evokes a hypotensive action in normal and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: The hypotensive effect of an aqueous extract of Fraxinus excelsior L. was investigated in both normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Daily oral administration of Fraxinus excelsior (20 mg/kg) aqueous extract for 3 weeks produced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) with variation coefficient (Delta%) of 13.5% in SHR (p<0.01) and 9% in WKY rats (p<0.05). The aqueous extract of Fraxinus excelsior significantly enhanced the urination in both SHR (p<0.05 compared to control) and WKY (p<0.05 compared to control). Irbesartan (Avapro), an angiotensin II antagonist, was used as reference drug. Furthermore, oral administration of aqueous Fraxinus excelsior extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg produced a significant increase in urinary excretion of sodium (p<0.01 compared to control), potassium (p<0.001 compared to control) and chlorides (p<0.01) in SHR rats. In normal rats, the aqueous Fraxinus excelsior extract administration induced a significant increase of the urinary elimination of sodium (p<0.05 compared to control), chlorides (p<0.01 compared to control) and potassium (p<0.01 versus control). While there were no significant changes in heart rate (HR) after Fraxinus excelsior treatment in both SHR and WKY rats, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) showed a significant increase in SH rats (p<0.001) after Fraxinus excelsior treatment. These results suggest that oral administration of aqueous extract of Fraxinus excelsior exhibited hypotensive and diuretic actions.
authors.affiliation: UFR PNPE P.B. 21, Boutalamine, Errachidia 52000, Morocco. m.eddouks@caramail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eddouks
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maghrani
authors.forename: N-A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Zeggwagh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haloui
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine; D031661:Fraxinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004573:Electrolytes; D010936:Plant Extracts