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

Introduction: Ferula persica (F. persica) have been used as lowering blood pressure (BP) in traditionalmedicine, but its therapeutic effects are not yet known in new medicine. So, in this study, the acute andchronic effects of F.persica aqueous extract were investigated on normal BP of rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male wistar rats (250-300gr) were randomlydivided to four acute groups (n=7). Femoral artery and vein was catheterized for BP recording and extractor vehicle injected in pentobarbital sodium anesthetized rats. To evaluate chronic extract of F.persicaeffects 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 theexperiment.Results: Intravenous administration of aqueous F. persica extract with 15, 30 or 60 mg/kg dosagesignificantly 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.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that intravenous injection of aqueous F. persica extractreduces BP. So, plant component identification and it can be used for hypertensive patients