Effects of the flavonoids extracted from Spergularia purpurea Pers. on arterial blood pressure and renal function in normal and hypertensive rats

The antihypertensive and diuretic effects of the flavonoids extracted from Spergularia purpurea Pers. (SP) were studied both in normotensive (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive conscious rats (SHR). Daily oral administration of the flavonoid mixture (5 mg/kg for 1 week) exhibited a significant decr ease in blood pressure with variation coefficient (Delta) of 20 in SHR rats and Il in NTR rats. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased si gnificantly and respectively with 17 and 24% in SHR, and with 11 and 16% in NTR. The flavonoid mixture enhanced significantly the water excretion in h ypertensive (P < 0.001) and normal rats (P < 0.001). Furthermore, oral admi nistration of flavonoids mixture at a dose of 5 mg/kg produced a significan t increase of urinary excretion of sodium (P < 0.01), potassium (P < 0.05) and chlorides (P < 0.05) in SHR. Similarly, the flavonoid administration in duced a significant increase of urinary electrolytes elimination in NTR (P < 0.01 versus controls). No significant changes were noted on heart rate af ter flavonoids treatment in SHR as well as in NTR. While, glomerular filtra tion rate showed a significant increase after administration of flavonoids in all groups (P < 0.05). These results suggest that oral administration of flavonoids obtained from Spergularia purpurea exhibited antihypertensive a nd diuretic actions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights rese rved.