ABSTRACT
The antihypertensive effect of Chinese celery decoction was studied using a renal-occlusive animal model. Sixteen male dogs were anaesthesized and operated. The left renal artery was then occluded. Three hours after the renovascular occlusion, eleven dogs were fed with distilled water in the same pattern. The intracarotid arterial pressure, electrocardiogram and urine output were continually recorded. Blood samples for plasma rennin activity (PRA) radio-immunoassay were collected before renovascular occlusion, just before feeding, and then two hours after feeding. In the experimental group, the systolic pressure (SP), diastolic pressure (DP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the PRA stepped up within three hours after renovascular occlusion. The celery feeding then brought the SP, DP, or MAP though the PRA came down slightly. In both groups, the urine volume decreased after renovascular occlusion then increased after feeding, but no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. The study confirmed the antihypertensive effect of Chiness celery even in the renovascular hypertensive model. The celery decoction brought down the blood pressure without causing pronounced diuresis or any decrease in rennin activity.