Effects of saponins from Herniaria glabra on blood pressure and renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Experiments were performed on male and female spontaneously hypertensive ra ts weighing 310-340 g (10 animals per group). The oral administration of 20 0 mg/kg/day of saponins from Herniaria glabra for 30 days, resulted in a si gnificant decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive rats. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly and respectively from 187 .60 +/- 20.63/119.00+/-7.09 mmHg at day 0 (DO) to 141.60 +/- 7.51/90.40+/-7 .68 mmHg at day 30 (D30), p<0.001 (vs. 186.30+/-11.27/114.10+/-12.00 mm Hg at DO to 154.50+/-6.38/ 132.3+/-7.68 mmHg at D30 in furosemide-treated grou p, p<0.001). Control animals receiving placebo did not show any significant variation in the mean arterial pressure. The effect of saponins of Herniar ia glabra on renal function was evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rat s using clearance techniques. Glomerular filtration rate was constant in th e control rats and increased significantly in the hypertensive rats after s aponins treatment (5.55+/-0.32 vs.6.03+/-0.43 ml.min(-1).kg(-1) in the cont rol (C) and saponins (S) groups, respectively, p<0.05). Saponins administra tion provoked an increase in urinary flow (59.38+/-5.85 ml.kg(-1).24 h(-1) vs.36.92+/-5.17 ml.kg(-1).24 h(-1), p< 0.001). Saponins also increased pota ssium excretion (6.89 +/- 0.81 mmol.kg(-1).24 h(-1) vs. 5.40+/-0.51 mmol.kg (-1).24 h(-1) 0.001) and sodiun excretion (10.74 +/- 1.21 mmol.kg(-1).24 h( -1) vs. 7.25 +/- 4.54 mmol.kg(-1) 24 h(-1), p<0.001) as veil as chloride ex cretion (13.59 +/- 1.04 mmol. kg(-1).24 h(-1) vs. 9.61+/-0.77 mmol.kg(-1).2 4 h(-1) P<0.001). It is concluded that chronic oral administration df sapon ins from Herniaria glabra decreased the arterial blood pressure and affecte d salt and water transport in renal tubules.