Anti-hypertensive activity of Alang – Alang (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. root methanolic extract on male Wistar rat

Abstract

Alang – alang (Imperata cylindrica) root was used an anti hypertension traditional medicine in Southeast Sulawesi. Study of antihypertensive activity of Alang – alang (Imperata cylindrica) root methanolic extract on NaCl induced hypertensive rat have been done by non invasive method. Non invasive method used two parameters, heart rate and amplitude stroke heart volume, those have direct correlation with blood pressure. Hypertensive rats were induced with NaCl orally twice a day for 14 days. Therapy with extract and reference drugs (amlodipine and captopril), were given orally to hypertensive rats for 14 days once a day. During therapy NaCl was given. Heart rate and amplitude were measured before therapy (D14-0) and 4 hours after the first therapy (D14-4), and then day 1 (D15), day 3 (D17), day 6 (D20), day 10 (D24), and day 14 (D28). Three doses of the extract were tested, 60, 90 and 115 mg/kg-bw. The results showed that reference drugs (amlodipine and captopril) and Imperata cylindrica root methanolic extract at doses of 60 and 90 mg/kg-bw, have an anti-hypertensive effect by decrease both two parameters, and at a dose of 115 mg/kg-bw did not significant anti hypertensive effect. In conclusion two of doses tested of the extract (60 and 90 mg/kg-bw) gave anti-hypertensive effect and the dose of 90 mg/kg-bw had the highest effect.