<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Assessment of efficacy of <i>Sankhahuli</i> (<i>Convolvulus pluricaulis</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>Chois.) and <i>gokhru</i> (<i>Tribulus terrestris</i> L.) in the management of hypertension</span>

Abstract

Although, the allopathic drugs are very useful to control hypertension and prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; the adverse metabolic effects of antihypertensive drugs have raised questions that challenge the traditional approaches for the management of hypertension. This was the main aim behind this study that prompted us to look for a safe and effective antihypertensive drug. Randomized, active control, single blind trial was carried out on 40 subjects. Experimental group was subjected to dried aqueous extract of <i>Sankhahuli</i> (<i>Convolvulus prostratus </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Forssk<i> </i>syn<i>. C. microphyllus </i>Sieb. ex Spreng<i>.; C. pluricaulis </i>Chois.) and <i>Gokhru</i> (<i>Tribulus terrestris</i> L.). Control group was subjected to Benzthiazide and Triamterene. Blood pressure levels were measured by using sphygmomanometer at 0, 14^th and 28^th day. For safety evaluation liver function test, kidney function test, Serum electrolyte and ECG (Electrocardiogram) were obtained before and after treatment. After 28^th day of therapy a significant difference (<span style="mso-ansi-language:FR" lang="FR">P<b> </b>< 0.0001) was noticed in both experimental and control group. The results in this preliminary study suggested that the drugs are effective and safe. However, the power of this study was limited because of low number of patients to draw a valid conclusion. Further studies are warranted with large number of patients before this drug could be recommended for therapy.

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