ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA AND ZINGIBER OFFICINALE VAR. RUBRUM EXTRACTS IN A DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE-SALT INDUCED HYPERTENSION RAT MODEL

This study evaluated the antihypertensive activity of the combination of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (roselle) extract and Zingiber officinale var. Rubrum (red ginger) extract on deoxycorticosterone-acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) induced hypertension in rats. Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 5 per group). Hypertension was induced by administering 30 mg/kg b.w. DOCA and 2% NaCl saline for three weeks. The treatment consisted of a normotensive group, a negative control (hypertension without treatment), a positive control (4.5 mg/200 g b.w. captopril orally) and three groups receiving the roselle-red ginger extract combination (50:3.5 mg; 100:7 mg; and 200:14 mg)/300 g b.w. for two weeks. RAAS biomarkers and an inflammatory mediator were measured according to assay procedures. The blood pressure of rats treated with the roselle-red ginger combination extract decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control, with values approximating those of the normotensive group. Plasma renin level, serum ACE activity, plasma Ang-II level and IL-17A level also significantly declined in the combination extract group compared to the negative control group. The roselle-red ginger combination extract has antihypertensive activity due to its effects on blood pressure, RAAS biomarkers and inflammatory mediators in the hypertension model rats.