title: The use of Piper sarmentosum leaves aqueous extract (Kadukmy™) as antihypertensive agent in spontaneous hypertensive rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2011 estimated that 35.1% (5.7 million) of Malaysian adults aged 18 and older suffer from hypertension. Hypertension is still treated by conventional medicine despite its exact aetiology being unknown. Studies showed that oxidative stress and low availability of nitric oxide (NO) causes an increase in vascular wall tension and increase blood pressure. Piper sarmentosum (PS) a traditional Malay herbal plant is well known for its high antioxidant content. Antioxidant is useful in improving cardiovascular diseases particularly hypertension. Thus, it is beneficial to determine the effect of PS leaves aqueous extract (Kadukmy™) on the blood pressure, NO level, oxidative stress markers and serum cholesterol level of the Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (SHR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were devided into five groups consisting of three treatment groups and two control groups. Baseline blood investigations were done before and following commencement of treatment. Spontaneous hypertensive rats were treated for 28 consecutive days and the blood pressure was measured weekly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kadukmy™ administration showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (P < 0.05), increased serum NO level (P < 0.05), reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level (P < 0.05) and reduction of serum total cholesterol level in groups treated with Kadukmy-1™.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of the present study revealed that Kadukmy™ exerts its antioxidant activity to reduce oxidative stress damage, increase NO production and able to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drmeihwa@yahoo.com.|Department of Basic Medical Sciences (Physiology), Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. drmeihwa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maizura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohd Zainudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. zaitonukm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zaiton
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. noranitamn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nor Anita
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Megat Mohd Nordin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D031701:Piper; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde