EFFECTS OF ECLIPTA ALBA AND BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSSA ON NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE AND HYPERTENSION IN RATS AND THEIR COMPARISON WITH AMLODIPINE

Background: Hypertension is an immensely pervaded problem in today's population and is a unanimous major risk factor for heart diseases. Various natural herbs have been found to control the hypertension exquisitely without causing any significant adverse effect. Eclipta alba (EA) and Boerhaavia diffusa (BD) are two herbaceous plants. EA is used to treat hepatic-dysfunction, hair diseases and anemia since ancient time. Similarly, BD is a great treatment-option for renal and urinary disorders. They have also been found quite effective in the safe treatment of hypertension. But studies in this respect are very scanty and confirmatory role of these herbs in hypertension is yet to be established. In the present study, effects of EA and BD on normal blood pressure (NBP) and hypertension were studied. Their antihypertensive activities were also compared with those of Amlodipine (Amlo). Methods: Adult Wistar rats of both sexes, weighing 140-150 g were randomized equally to make 9 groups (6 rats/group). First 6 groups were given high fat diet for 49 days to produce hypertension. Then drugs were given for next 45 days without stopping high fat diet. 7th, 8th & 9th groups were meant to see the effects of EA and BD on NBP; they were kept on normal diet and were given EA-200 mg/kg, BD-200 mg/kg, EA+BD (200 mg/kg of each) respectively for first 45 days. SBP (systolic blood pressure) was measured by 'Tail-cuff method' with the help of NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure measurement)-controller machine. Results: All drugs showed significant antihypertensive activities. Rats on Amlo-10 mg/kg showed most significant reduction (39.54%), followed by rats on EA+BD (200mg/kg of each; 31.01% reduction), BD-200 mg/kg (28.91% reduction), EA-200 mg/kg (25.54% reduction), BD-100 mg/kg (20.68% reduction). EA, BD and EA+BD caused no significant reduction in NBP. Conclusion: To conclude, EA and BD comprise significant antihypertensive activities with no harmful effects on (reduction in) NBP.