Introduction: Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, including hypertension, kidney failure, and heart disease. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic Cichorium intybus extract on blood pressure in rats. Antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid contents of the plant extract were also evaluated. Methods: In this study, 32 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into four groups of eight each. Animals in the control group were administered with normal saline and in the C. intybus groups with extract at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg for two weeks. Then, the homodynamic parameters were examined by the Power lab. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were also evaluated by a spectrophotometer and the rate of free radical scavenging activity was measured by the diphenyl-1-picyryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical method. Results: The free radical scavenging activity of C. intybus extract was obtained 47. 85% of DPPH, and flavonoid and phenolic contents were 8. 21 and 27. 19 mg/g of dry extract, respectively. Meanwhile, median (MAP), systolic (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) significantly decreased in the 50 mg/kg extract-treated group compared to the control and 200 mg/kg extracttreated groups. Conclusion: Ethanol extract of C. intybus plays a protective role against hypertension, which, in part, might be due to antioxidant compounds of the plant against free radicals.

Objective: For many years in herbal medicine the antihypertensive and lowering blood lipid properties of Achillea wilhelmsii (A. wilhelmsii) have been suggested. In the present study the impacts of the plant extract on rabbit’s blood pressure and heart rate have been investigated.Materials and Methods: Twelve NWZ rabbits weighed 2-3 kg were randomly divided into two groups of 6 rabbits. The test group received A. wilhelmsii extract (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) and the control group received normal saline by jugular vein cannula. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured via carotid cannula using pressure transducer connected to a power lab system.Results: The blood pressure was significantly decreased (16.7± 1.4 mmHg) in 80 mg/kg dose of the extract (p<0.05). However, there were not any significant effects on heart rate in the other doses of the extract or normal saline.Conclusion: the aqueous-ethanolic extract has blood pressure lowering property which may due to cardiac depressant and/or vasorelaxant effects.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and side effects of betaxolol and timolol in treatment of primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.Patients and methods: This single-blind randomized cross-over clinical trial was conducted on 14 patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Each patient received timolol 0.5% and betaxolol 0.5% (Sina Darou) twice daily for two weeks in two phases. Before and between the two courses of treatment there was a wash-out period. At the end of the study the effect of these two drugs on intraocular pressure (IOP), mean arterial blood pressure, pulse rate, and basic tear secretion in addition to ocular symptoms were evaluated and statistically analyzed.Results: The study was performed on 14 patients with baseline IOP of 26.7±1.5 mmHg. After 2 weeks of treatment, timolol and betaxolol reduced IOP by 7.8±1.2 mmHg (29%) and 6.1±1.3 mmHg (23%), respectively (P<0.001) and the difference between the two groups was also significant (P<0.001). Mean arterial blood pressure was reduced with betaxolol and timolol by 4.7±7.1 mmHg (P<0.03), and 3.2±5.6 mmHg (P<0.05), respectively, but the difference between two groups was not significant. Pulse rate was reduced with timolol and betaxolol by 8 ±3.4 beats/min, and 6.5±5.6 beats/min, respectively (P<0.01), with no significant difference between two groups. Mean reduction in basic tear secretion with timolol and betaxolol was 0.8±2.1 mm/5min (P<0.2), and 0.5±1.9 mm/5min (p<0.3), respectively; intergroup comparison was also not significant. Patients in 85.7% of the betaxolol group and 35.7% of the timolol group complained of eye burning (P<0.01). Other symptoms were similar between two groups.Conclusion: Timolol is superior to betaxolol in treatment of early glaucoma or ocular hypertension, but both drugs should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular compromise.

Centella asiatica L. (C. asiatica) is a plant with a Hypotensive effect. Since this effect has several mechanism(s), therefore in the current study we investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. asiatica on cardiovascular parameters in acute hypertensive rats. Animals were divided into four groups; 1) control, 2) Angiotensin II (AngII) that received (50 ng/kg) intravenously (i. v. ), 3 and 4) two groups of C. asiatica extract (CA100, and CA200 mg/kg). In treated groups, 30 min after injection of the extract, AngII was injected. Cardiovascular parameters were recorded by the power lab system after the cannulation of the femoral artery. The maximum changes (∆ ) of systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were calculated and used for statistical analysis. In the AngII group, Δ SBP and Δ MAP significantly increased compared to the control group. The HR also decreased compared to the control group but it was not significant. In CA100+AngII group Δ SBP and Δ MAP significantly decreased compared to the AngII. The use of these doses of CA with AngІ І compared to AngІ І alone had a significant effect on the HR. In CA200+AngII group Δ SBP and Δ MAP significantly decreased compared to the AngII. The change of HR in this dose was not significant to the AngII. In a recent study, we concluded that C. asiatica decreased the cardiovascular responses in hypertensive rats received AngII. Also between two doses of C. asiatica did not observe any significant difference. Therefore, one of the most important Hypotensive mechanism(s) of the considered plant can be the effect on Renin-angiotensin system.

Background and Objectives: According to extensive use of latanoprost in treatment of glaucoma and increasing administration of Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug, (NSAIDs) in ophthalmology, this question comes important to answer that what is NSAIDs effects on Latanoprost intra ocular pressure (IOP) lowering properties. Our purposes are to evaluate the effect of Diclofenac Sodium 0.1% on IOP reduction by latanoprost 0.005% and to evaluate the effect of Diclofenac Sodium 0.1% on IOP without co-administration of Latanoprost 0.005%.Materials and Methods: 42 eyes of 21 patients were enrolled in this study. First for one eye of subjects Latanoprost 0.005 eye solution and for other eye artificial tear administered for 4 weeks. Then Diclofenac Sodium 0.1% eye solution was administered for 2 weeks for both eyes and then changes of mean IOP in each group were surveyed. Usage of Diclofenac Sodium 0.1% eye solution is discontinued and 2 weeks later the changes of mean IOP in each group were surveyed again.Results: In co-administration of Latanoprost and Diclofenac Sodium 0.1%, mean IOP increased from 1 4.38 to 15.52 mmHg after administration of Diclofenac Sodium 0.1%.This change was significant (P=0.03).In the other eye mean IOP was decreased from 15.33 to 14.81 mmHg after Diclofenac Sodium 0.1% administration. This change was not significant (P=0.205) Conclusion: Diclofenac Sodium0.1% decreases the IOP lowering effect of Latanoprost while Diclofenac Sodium 0.1% doesn.t have significant influence on IOP alone. (without coadministration of Latanoprost).