Context: Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) fruit is said to possess cardiovascular activity and has been used empirically in traditional phytotherapies for the treatment of hypertension and various other cardiovascular diseases. Objective: This study investigated the antihypertensive and cardioinhibitory activity of the aqueous-methanol extract of F. carica fruit in rats. Materials and methods: Extract in 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses (p.o.) were administered to normotensive Sprague Dawley rats and blood pressure was measured using non-invasive technique. Hypertension was induced in rats by oral administration of 10% glucose for 3 weeks. Hypotensive effect of extract (1000 mg/kg p.o) was studied in normotensive and glucose-treated hypertensive rats. Langendorff’s isolated heart technique was used to assess the effect of crude extract on force of contraction and heart rate. In addition, antioxidant potential, TPC, TFC were also assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and AlCl₃ assay, respectively. Furthermore, phenolic compounds were analyzed using HPLC-DAD technique. Results and discussion: The 1000 mg/kg dose decreased blood pressure significantly in normotensive and glucose-treated hypertensive rats. The isolated heart study showed that the extract produced negative inotropic and chronotropic effects but it failed to block the stimulatory effect of both adrenaline and CaCl₂. HPLC studies on the F. carica extract indicated the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, coumaric acid and chromotropic acid. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that aqueous methanol extract of F. carica fruit exerted hypotensive and antihypertensive effects in glucose-induced hypertensive rats.

The present study aims at phytochemical profiling and valuating the effect of crude extract of Delphinium brunonianum on fructose mediated rise in blood pressure and metabolic abnormalities in rats. Therefore, rats were fed on fructose (10%w/v) for 6 weeks. Rats in treatment groups received amlodipine 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of DB-Cr separately in concurrent to fructose. Various parameters of metabolic perturbations were assessed at the end of study. Further, DB-Cr was analyzed using LC-MS technique. DB-Cr exerted remarkable antihypertensive effect whereas, sympathetic hyperactivity and hyperinsulinemia in these rats was significantly blunted, further, endothelium functionality was successfully restored. LC-MS analysis of DB-Cr revealed the presence of a variety of chemical constituents (41) including quinic acid, scopolin, gingerol, Robinetin 3-rutinoside, KAPA and maleic acid. In conclusion, D. brunonianum possess the potential to combat the fructose mediated hypertension and metabolic perturbations, which may partially be due to its chemical constituents.

This study was focused with the aim to investigate the antithrombotic potential of Berberis calliobotrys. Aqueous-methanolic extract and various fractions showed significant (p<0.05-0.001) increase in prothrombin, activated partial thromboplastin and clotting time while only aqueous methanolic extract caused clot lysis when added to the blood samples of rabbit and human. In vivo study in rabbits, butanolic fraction (100 mg/kg) produced more significant prolongation in bleeding, prothrombin, activated partial thromboplastin and clotting time. Interestingly butanolic fraction had shown more pronounced effects among all tested extracts both in vivo and in vitro studies. Hence, it was subjected to antilipid peroxidation and phytochemical studies (total falvonoid contents, HPLC-DAD profile, FTIR). In conclusion, B. calliobotrys induce transient changes in the coagulation parameters, may it possess active constituents responsible for its antithrombotic potential.

The present research work was conducted to appraise the antithrombotic activity of Mentha longifolia using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Aqueous methanolic (70:30) extract produced significant (p<0.01-0.001) and dose-dependent increase in in vitro blood clotting time, bleeding time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin level with maximum effect at highest concentration. While in in vivo experiment, aqueous methanol extract showed noteworthy (p<0.01-0.001) prolongation in bleeding time and clotting time after 30, 60 and 90 min of administration except for 25 mg/kg at 30 min which is non-significant. Moreover, plant extract exhibited considerable increase (p<0.1-0.001) in bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time as well as activated partial thromboplastin time in rabbits after seven days of treatment. Additionally, HPLC analysis of M. longifolia aqueous methanolic extract illustrated the presence of various valuable phytoconstituents. In a nutshell, M. longifolia possesses potential antithrombotic activity and hence systematically proved to be beneficial in patients with vascular diseases.