Journal of Pharmacy Research Vol.5 Issue 7.July 2012 Umang H. Joshi et al. / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2012,5(7),3613-3617 3613-3617 Research Article ISSN: 0974-6943 Available online through www.jpronline.info *Corresponding author. Umang H. Joshi 1 M.Pharm student, R.K. college of Pharmcy, Kasturbadham, Bhavnagar highway, Tramba, Rajkot- 360 020, Gujarat, India INTRODUCTION Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular illness and is a major public health issue in developed as well as in developing countries. Hyper- tension (HTN) or high blood pressure, sometimes called arterial hyperten- sion, is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Normal blood pressure at rest is within the range of 100-140mmHg systolic and 60-90mmHg diastolic. High blood pressure is said to be present if it is persistently at or above 140/90 mmHg. [1] World Health Organization (WHO) has carried out epidemiological studies in India in between 1995 to 2006. According to this, prevalence of hyperten- sion is 29.3% in men and 25.2% women has been found at the end of 2006. In India cardiovascular diseases cause 1.5 million deaths annually. Deaths due to hypertension arise from cerebrovascular and cardiovascular complica- tions such as stroke, end-stage renal disease, congestive heart failure, myo- cardial infarction and cardiac arrest. Hypertension is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary heart disease deaths. This fact is important because hypertension is a controllable disease and a popu- lation wide 2 mmHg decrease in BP can prevent 151,000 stroke and 153,000 coronary heart disease deaths. [2] Hypertension involves mainly two types, essential and secondary. The patho- genesis of essential hypertension is multi factorial and highly complex which will be caused by increase in sympathetic nervous system activity, increase in production of sodium-retaining hormones and vasoconstrictors, deficien- cies of vasodilators such as prostacycline and nitric oxide, inappropriate or increased renin secretion and genetic predisposition while pathogenesis of secondary hypertension will be caused by chronic kidney disease, renovas- cular disease, Cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma, drugs such as non- steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives. [1] Investigation of antihypertensive mechanism of Evolvulus alsinoides in DOCA salt induced hypertensive rats Umang H. Joshi 1* , Karshan R. Dabhi 1 , Tusharbindu R. Desai 2 , Pravin R. Tirgar 3 1 M.Pharm students, R. K. College of Pharmacy, 2 Principal and Professor, R. K. College of Pharmacy, 3 Asssociate Professor, R. K. College of Pharmacy,R.K. college of Pharmcy, Kasturbadham, Bhavnagar highway, Tramba, Rajkot- 360 020, Gujarat, India Received on:07-04-2012; Revised on: 12-05-2012; Accepted on:16-06-2012 ABSTRACT Reason of study : To investigate antihypertensive mechanism of methanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides herb (MEEA) in DOCA salt induced hyperten- sive rats. Main finding: MECO of authentified sample was prepared using soxhlet extraction using methanol as an extracting solvent. Antihypertensive mechanism of MEEA was investigated using DOCA salt induced hypertension in wistar rats. Nephrectomy were performed and hypertension were induced by DOCA salt (25 mg/kg, s.c.); MEEA (600 mg/kg, i.p.); and Enalapril (Standard) were administered then hemodynamic parameters like Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and pulse pressure (PP) were measured using tail-cuff apparatus with AD instrument powerlab to find out mechanism of antihypertensive effect. SBP, DBP, MABP and PP were significantly decreased in MEEA treated rats as compared to disease control group (p<0.001/ p<0.01/ p<0.05). Principle conclusion: MEEA possess antihypertensive activity with ACE inhibitor mechanism similar as enalapril in DOCA salt induced hypertensive rats. Keywords: MECO, Antihypertensive effects, Nephroctomy, DOCA salt, AD powerlab. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include, shortness of breath (dyspnea), fatigue, dizziness or fainting spells (syncope), chest pres- sure or pain, bluish colour to lips and skin (cyanosis), racing pulse or heart palpitations, headache and nosebleeds. [1] Normally, hypertension is diagnosed by physical history, laboratory tests, sphygmomanometer and digital blood pressure monitor. [1] Although, many antihypertensive allopathic remedies are readily available to prevent and manage the hypertension, but many of this drugs cause serious and life threatening adverse effects. Synthetic antihypertensive like diuretics cause muscle cramps, dehydration, extreme tiredness, skin rash, blurred vi- sion and abnormal heart rate, ACE inhibitors cause cough, kidney failure, skin rash and fever, calcium channel blockers cause fatigue, skin rash, constipation and edema, ß-blockers cause bronchospasm, Reynaud’s syndrome, heart fail- ure and postural hypotension, as ß-blockers cause bronchospasm so con- traindicated in asthma, others like centrally acting drugs cause sexual dys- function. In addition, all antihypertensive drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy accept methyldopa. Other major drawback of synthetic anti-hy- pertensive is that most of these drugs are very costly. [2] Use of appropriate herbals causes least or no side effects with multiple actions and cost is also relatively low. Scientific studies suggest different lifestyle changes and use of appropriate herbal medicine use in the manage- ment of hypertension. Rauwolfia serpentine, Ginkgo Biloba, Allium sativum and Crocus sativus are the most popular herbs are used for management of hypertension today. The way they work is that they improved blood circu- lation by dilating the arteries. [3] Modern science has already, accepted the potential of the herbs as a source of new bio-active constituents. There are numerous plants-derived drugs of unknown chemical structure that have been found clinically useful in differ- ent alternative system of medicine, including Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani system of medicine.