مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Protective Effects of Ferula assa-foetida Aqueous Extract on Cardiovascular Responses in L-NAME–Induced Hypertensive Rats
Protective Effects of Ferula assa-foetida Aqueous Extract on Cardiovascular Responses in L-NAME–Induced Hypertensive Rats
Mariye Davoudi Nejad,1,*Safa Al-NasseSafa,2Reza Mohabbati,3Mohammad Naser Shafei,4
1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 4. Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Introduction: Hypertension is a major global health concern and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite effective pharmacological treatments, many patients fail to achieve adequate blood pressure control. Interest in medicinal plants as complementary therapies has therefore increased.
Ferula assa-foetida (“Asafoetida”), traditionally used in Persian medicine, has demonstrated antispasmodic, antiviral, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering properties. Preliminary studies suggest it may also lower blood pressure, but evidence remains limited. This study investigated the preventive effects of aqueous Ferula assa-foetida gum extract on cardiovascular responses in an experimental model of hypertension induced by L-NAME (Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.
Methods: Animals: 48 male Wistar rats (250 ± 10 g).
Groups (n=8 each):
Control (saline, i.p.)
L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.v.)
Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 50 µg/kg, i.p.) + L-NAME
4–6. Asafoetida extract (10, 30, 60 mg/kg, i.p.) + L-NAME
Procedure: Rats were anesthetized with thiopental sodium (60 mg/kg, i.p.). Femoral artery was cannulated for cardiovascular monitoring and femoral vein for drug administration. After treatments, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded.
Analysis: Data analyzed with InStat software. Results expressed as mean ± SEM. Significance threshold set at p < 0.05.
Results: Baseline effect: Asafoetida extract (30 and 60 mg/kg) significantly reduced SBP and MAP; the 60 mg/kg dose also decreased HR (p < 0.05).
Protective effect: Pretreatment with extract (30 and 60 mg/kg) significantly prevented L-NAME–induced increases in SBP and MAP, comparable to SNP.
Heart rate: Only the 60 mg/kg dose reduced HR significantly compared with L-NAME (p < 0.05); its effect was not significantly different from SNP.
Low dose (10 mg/kg): No significant effect observed.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that aqueous Ferula assa-foetida gum extract has a dose-dependent preventive effect on acute hypertension induced by L-NAME. Its efficacy in reducing SBP and MAP was comparable to sodium nitroprusside, a standard vasodilator, supporting a role for nitric oxide–mediated mechanisms.
Given its traditional use and apparent safety in experimental settings, Ferula assa-foetida may represent a promising herbal adjunct for hypertension management, although further long-term and mechanistic studies are warranted.