Acute and chronic effects of aqueous Ferula persica extract on blood pressure of normotensive rats

Ferula persica (F. persica) have been used as lowering blood pressure (BP) in traditional medicine, but its therapeutic effects are not yet known in new medicine. So, in this study, the acute and chronic effects of F.persica aqueous extract were investigated on normal BP of rats. In this experimental study, 40 male wistar rats (250-300gr) were randomly divided to four acute groups (n=7). Femoral artery and vein was catheterized for BP recording and extract or vehicle injected in pentobarbital sodium anesthetized rats. To evaluate chronic extract of F.persica effects on BP, the F.persica extract (30 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was orally administrated in two groups (n=6) for a month. Systolic BP was recorded non-invasively from the tail at the beginning and the end of the experiment. Intravenous administration of aqueous F. persica extract with 15, 30 or 60 mg/kg dosage significantly reduced mean arterial BP of anesthetized rats by 32%, 42% and 55% respectively (p<0.001). Chronic oral administration of extract or vehicle for a month had no effect on systolic BP of conscious rats. Also there is no significant difference in heart rate in different experimental groups. The results of this study showed that intravenous injection of aqueous F. persica extract reduces BP. So, plant component identification and it can be used for hypertensive patients