Author
Mariam Ahmad and M. Zaini Asmawi, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Proceeding
Trends in Traditional Medicine Research, Proceedings of the International Conference on the Use of Traditional Medicine & Other Natural Products in Health Care
Date
8/6/1993
Keyword
Andrographis paniculata, hypoglycaemic activity, antihypertensive activity
Abstract
Andrographis paniculata has a considerable medicinal reputation in Malaysia as a potent folk medicine in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. In this study, the efficacy of the aqueous extract of Andrographis paniculata as hypoglycaemic and antihypertensive agents was evaluated. Oral administration of the extract at a dose of 2 g/kg failed to lower the blood glucose levels in normal rats (n=6). However, glucose tolerance test showed that the same dose of the extract inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels in normal rats (n=6) that have been treated with oral glucose load (1.5 g/kg). This indicated that the extract might have some hypoglycaemic activities. Moreover, intravenous administration of the extract caused the lowering of the blood pressure of anaesthetised spontaneously hypertensive activities. Experiments using isolated tissue preparations, showed that the extract (1.5 mg/ml) inhibited the increase in the noradrenaline induced perfusion pressure in perfused mesenteric artery. Furthermore, it also inhibited the electrically induced contraction in superfused vas deferens and guinea-pig ileum preparations. The noradrenaline in the former and acetylcholine induced contraction in the latter was also inhibited by the extract. Since this extract inhibited the contraction induced by both adrenergic and mechanisms through which the extract exerted its antihypertensive effect is by its smooth muscle relaxant action. Two groups of antihypertensive drugs which possess this type of activity are vasodilators and calcium antagonists.
