Withania somnifera extract. Its effect on arterial blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs

The effect of Withania somnifera extract on arterial blood pressure in ‘normotensive’ pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs was studied. Also a possible effect of Withania somnifera on blood pressure in dogs administered either with adrenaline and acetylcholine was investigated. Thirty mongrel dogs of both sexes were distributed randomly in three series of ten animals each. Each animal was adminstered at intervals of 4 min with either a neurotransmitter, saline or the extract until a cycle of 32 minutes was completed. It is concluded that the Withania somnifera extract induced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the arterial and diastolic blood pressure in ‘normotensive’ pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs. Withania also significantly prevented the hypotensive effect of acetyltholine and increased the hypertensive effect of adrenaline.