HACHIMI-JIO-GAN EXTRACT PROTECTS THE KIDNEY FROM HYPERTENSIVE INJURY IN DAHL SALT-SENSITIVE RAT

We investigated whether the Chinese herbal remedy, Hachimi-jio-gan ext ract, attenuates the renal injury seen in salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl S) rats. Administration of this extract for 5 weeks dose-dependently decreased systolic blood pressure in Dahl S rats fed with a high-salt (2% NaCl) diet. This blood pressure reductio n was associated with a decrease in cardiac mass and in thickness of t he aortic wall. Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E(2) was increased and glomerular filtration rate was improved with this treatment. Glome rulosclerosis and arterial injury in the kidney were morphologically i mproved, These data suggest that Hachimi-jio-gan extract exhibits an a ntihypertensive effect, which is associated with partial resolution of renal injury in salt-induced hypertension.