Farzane Tamimi - Research Center and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan-Iran
Mahdi Zahedi-Khorasani - Research Center and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan-Iran
Abedin Vvakili - Research Center and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan-Iran
Fatemeh Zahedi-Khorasani - Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences,Semnan, Iran

Introduction: The medicinal plant Prangos Ferulacea has various therapeutic properties that have been mentioned in traditional medicine and new research. Our previous study showed its effect on rats blood pressure. In this study, the mechanism of Prangos Ferulacea hypotension was investigated.Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats (250-300 gr) were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups including control and mechanism groups. Animals were anesthetized with peritoneal injection of Thiopental Sodium (80 mg / kg, ip) and their arteries and veins were cannulated. After recording the baseline blood pressure, L-NAME (4mg / kg) or atropine (1mg / kg) or indomethacin (5 mg / kg) or saline was injected intraperitoneally in separate groups. Then hydroalcoholic extract of Prangos Ferulae (50 mg / kg) or its vehicle (saline) was injected intravenously and arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded.Results: Intravenous injection of Prangos Ferulacea (50mg / kg) after L-NAME and indomethacin caused a significant decrease in mean arterial blood pressure from 109.7 to 56.5 and from 98.9 to 53.7 respectively (p <0.001). However, Prangos Ferulae (50 mg / kg) intravenous administration after atropine caused a slight increase in mean blood pressure, which was not significant. Also, the above treatments did not affect heart rate. Conclusion: Since atropine eliminated the effect of hypotension, Prangos Ferulacea apparently reduces blood pressure through the muscarinic receptor.

Prangos Ferulaceae, Atropine, Blood pressure, Rat