Adjuvant antihypertensive effect of a novel Ayurvedic herbal formulation in fructose-induced albino rat model

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most common treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is a multifactorial clinical condition and thus can be managed in multiple pathways. Management of hypertension with modern antihypertensive medication is not ideally effective due to side effects and adverse effects associated with their long-term use. Thus, a novel Ayurvedic formulation NIA/DG/2015/01 test drug (TD) was designed to address multiple pathway management of hypertension. Further, albeit the simultaneous use of modern and Ayurveda antihypertensive is common, there is no systematic study to evaluate the combined effect and adverse effect of this simultaneous use. This study is aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of a novel Ayurvedic formulation (TD) both as an adjuvant with modern antihypertensive drugs and as a stand-alone drug in fructose-induced hypertensive albino rats. METHODS: TD comprises of the combination of aqueous extract of root of Boerhavia diffusa L., whole plant of Convolvulus prostratus Forssk., rhizome of Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC., bark of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn., and root of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. TD was administered 90 mg/kg body weight, P.O. twice a day for 28 days to evaluate its effect in fructose-induced hypertensive rats using the Quinapril as a standard drug. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured on day 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of drug administration by noninvasive BP system for rodents. RESULTS: TD significantly reduced SBP and DBP in comparison to the standard drug Quinapril. (P < 0.001, one-way analysis of variance followed by Turkey’s multiple comparison test and Dunnett’s multiple comparison test). CONCLUSION: Ayurvedic formulation possesses significant antihypertensive activity in fructose-induced hypertensive albino rat model.