An Assessment of Antihypertensive & Anti-hyperlipidemic Activity of Allium sativum and Rauwolfia serpentina in Hypertension and High Fat Induced Rat Model

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension (high blood pressure) is an increasingly important global medical and public health problem that is linked to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Researchers in both developed and developing nations have identified it as one of the most widespread diseases currently present. The investigators are focusing on plants for better, safer, more affordable, and more effective alternatives due to unwanted risks and negative effects of synthetic pharmaceuticals. Allium sativum possesses anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, renoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antihypertensive properties while Rauwolfia serpentina is known to possess pharmacological actions such as hypnotic effect, sedative effect, antihypertensive activity, and anti hypercholesteremic activity. Methods: Sixty rats were divided into six groups, each containing ten rats. With the exception of the negative control group, rats from all groups were given 1% NaCI solution as water and high fat diet as food to induce hypertension. After that, among the six groups one group was treated with Allium sativum, one group with Rauwolfia serpentina and one with the mixture of Rauwolfia serpentina and Allium sativum. Results and Discussion: In case of lipid profile and blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure) both Rauwolfia serpentina and Allium sativum significantly (p<0.05) reversed disturbed pathological state, when compared with disease control group. However, Rauwolfia serpentina demonstrated the highest degree of activity for anti-hypertensive activity (Mean Blood Pressure 89.79±5.84 mmHg) and Allium sativum is more potent for controlling abnormal lipid profile (Total Cholesterol 125.39±5.59). Conclusion: Therefore, this study provides scientific evidence that Rauwolfia serpentina and Allium sativum have considerable anti-hypertensive and anti-lipidemic activities. More research needs to be done on these plants to isolate particular therapeutic constituents, so that it can be applied more precisely and accurately to mitigate the respective disease.