Anti-Hypertensive Activity of Punica granatum peels Ethyl Acetate Extract on Fludrocortisones Induced Hypertension in Wistar Rats

Pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn.) has several medicinal properties. Pomegranate juice has been reported to be an effective source of high amounts of phyto-constituents with many health and nutritional benefits. This work assessed the possible effect on blood pressure (B.P) and heart rate of P. granatum peel ethyl acetate extract (PGE) at a dosage of 400 mg / kg / day on hypertension-induced fludrocortisone Wistar rats. PGE therapy substantially lowered the B.P of hypertensive rats treated with salt fludrocortisones, but the mean blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive rats were not altered. In isolated aortic strip, the contractile reactions to noradrenalin of PGE-treated hypertensive rats have been substantially reduced. The active fraction was purified by successive chromatographic techniques resulted in isolation of quercetin and ursolic acid, this bioactive mixture induced a significant decrease in the blood pressure of hypertensive rats as compared to hypertensive control rats at a concentration of 10 mg/kg.