The Preventative Effect of Gamibangpungtongsungsan (KBTS) on Hypertension

가미방풍통성산의 항고혈압 작용

In oriental medicine, Gamibangpungtongsungsan (KBTS) has been used as a therapeutic agent for the treatments of acute stage of cerebrovascular diseases and hypertension. In the present study, underlying mechanism on KBTS effects was investigated using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by determining related parameters such as blood pressure, heart-beat rates, and hormones and plasma constituents. The major finding are summarized as follows. 1. KBTS treatment at concentrations lower than $125\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ did not show any cytotoxicity on cultured human fibroblast cells. 2. KBTS treatment in SHR significantly decreased blood pressure and heart-beat rate compared with untreated control. 3. KBTS treatment in SHR decreased aldosterone levels in the blood compared with untreated control, but the difference was not statistically significant. 4. KBTS treatment in SHR significantly decreased dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels in the blood compared with untreated control. 5. KBTS treatment in SHR decreased plasma ion concentrations such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- compared with untreated control; decreases in Na+ and Cl- were statistically significant. 6. KBTS treatment in SHR significantly decreased TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, and IL-10 levels in the blood compared with untreated control. Thus, the present data show evidence on anti-hypertension activity of KBTS in an experimental animal system, which can provide further insights into the development of anti-hypertension therapeutic agents.