Journal of Pharmacopuncture (대한약침학회지)

KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE (대한약침학회)
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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit and Combination with Losartan Attenuate the Elevation of Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Rats Induced by Angiotensin II

  • Tomi Hendrayana (Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology) ;
  • Klaudia Yoana (Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology) ;
  • I Ketut Adnyana (Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology) ;
  • Elin Yulinah Sukandar (Faculty of Pharmacy, General Achmad Yani University)
  • Received : 2023.05.08
  • Accepted : 2023.09.12
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: Cucumis sativus L. (C. sativus) is vegetable commonly used for managing blood pressure and often consumed in combination with standard antihypertensive therapy, despite lack of scientific evidence supporting their use. Combination of herbs and standard medication could have positive or negative effects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of C. sativus and the combined effect with losartan in the hypertensive rat model induced by angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that, upon binding to its receptor, constricts blood vessels leading to elevation of blood pressure. Methods: In an antihypertensive study, rats received C. sativus orally at doses of 9, 18, 27, and 36 mg/kg (full dose); while in a combination study, animals received losartan 2.25 mg/kg combined by either with C. sativus 9 or 18 mg/kg. The standards group received losartan 2.25 mg/kg or 4.5 mg/kg (full dose). Results: Blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method. C. sativus significantly attenuated angiotensin II-induced hypertension as observed in groups receiving C. sativus at 9, 18, 27, and 36 mg/kg at 30 minutes after induction showed the average change (Δ) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with respect to time zero were 28.8/18.3, 24.8/15.8, 22.8/15.5, and 11.5/9.0 mmHg, respectively. Whereas the average change (Δ) of SBP and DBP in the rats receiving the combination of half doses of C. sativus and losartan were 8.8/9.0 mmHg, respectively. These diminished effects were better than a full dose of C. sativus and comparable with a full dose of losartan (6.5/7.8 mmHg). Conclusion: The present findings indicate that C. sativus dose-dependently blocks blood pressure elevation induced by angiotensin II. The combination of half dose of C. sativus and losartan has an additive effect in lowering blood pressure.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Kusnandar Anggadiredja for critically reading the manuscript and all members of the Pharmacology lab for fruitful discussions. We highly appreciate the kind assistance of staff at the School of Pharmacy ITB in conducting the research.

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