Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 5 (2), April 2006, pp. 197-200

Antihypertensive activity of Amuri from Musa paradisiaca L.

Jaiprakash B1, Habbu P V2*, Karadi R V1, Lavalhe M S3, Savadi R V3, Sudha R4 & Joshi S D
1
Department of Pharmacognosy, K L E S’s College of Pharmacy, Belgaum, Karnataka; *2Department of Pharmacognosy,
S E T’s college of Pharmacy, Dharwad 580 002, Karnataka; 3Department of Pharmacognosy, K L E S’s College of Pharmacy,
Hubli, Karnataka; 4Department of Siddha Medicine, Tamil University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
E-mail: prasherbs@ yahoo.com
Received 30 December 2004; revised 14 March 2005

Amuri is a Kayakarpam preparation in Siddha System of Medicine for treatment of many diseases. In the present
investigation, an attempt has been made to study the antihypertensive activity of Amuri from plantain (Banana tree (Musa
paradisiaca L.) through animal models. The drug was screened for all possible mechanisms that alter blood pressure like
diuretic activity in albino rats, antianxiety activity in mice, calcium channel blocking activity and β-adrenoreceptor blocking
activity on isolated frog heart. Amuri from Banana tree exhibited significant diuretic activity (p<0.001) at a dose level of
8ml and 10ml/kg bw, and was comparable to hydrochlorthiazide. Treatment with Amuri did not have any antianxiety
activity. Amuri also produced significant positive ionotropic and negative chronotropic effect similar to that of digoxin on
isolated frog heart. This action was not antagonized by propranalol. Pretreatment with verapamil significantly reduced the
cardiotonic activity. Amuri produced a significant increase in the force of contraction and heart rate (p<0.001). The action of
Amuri on isolated frog heart was not dose dependent.

Keywords: Amuri, Kayakarpam, Musa paradisiaca, Antihypertensive activity

IPC Int. Cl8: A61K36/00, A61P9/12

Siddha System of Medicine is one of the ancient results in hypertension and hence in the study an
traditional systems of India. The basic principle of attempt was made to prove the efficacy of Amuri for
treatment is similar to Ayurveda. Kayakarpam is a its antihypertensive activity through animal models.
specialized and advanced therapy in Siddha System
for rejuvenation and promotion of longevity. This Methodology
ancient science was kept in coded palm literature to Standardised Amuri from Musa paradisiaca L.
maintain its secrecy and to check possible misuse. prepared according to Kandhara nadi vakkiyam was
Amuri, Muppu and Guru are three fundamental Kalpa obtained from Department of Siddha Medicine, Tamil
preparations mentioned in various Siddha books and University, Tanjavur, and a voucher specimen was
manuscripts1,2. Amuri is used as a single or as kept in college herbarium. Wistar strain albino rats
adjuvant for various diseases of Vatam, Pittam, and (150-200 gm) and albino mice (20-25 gm) of either
Kapham disorders3. It is also indicated in stomach, sex were used for in-vivo studies. Common Indian
hepatic, and urinary disorders, cough, headache, frogs (Rana tigrina) of medium size were used for in-
sinusitis, eye diseases and in various toxic vitro studies. All the animals were housed in standard
conditions4,5. Khandara nadi Vakkiyam describes that environmental conditions with rodent diet and water
Amuri is used in preparations of Muppu and Guru, to ad libitum. Diazepam tablets, (4 mg/kg, bw, ip),
tone up Saptha Dhatus, to tone up physical and hydrochlorthiazide tablets, (5 mg/kg, bw, po),
etheric body, for purification and preparation process adrenaline tartarate Injection, (10 mcg/ml),
of minerals and metals. Different types of Amuri can propranalol tablets, (10 mcg/ml), digoxin tablets,
be prepared according to the purpose like, Vata Amuri (10mcg/ml), and verapamil tablets, (10 mcg/ml) were
(in drug preparations), Vaidya Amuri (for therapeutic used as standard drugs.
purpose), Yoga Amuri and Karpa Amuri for Amuri is a specially extracted liquid from banana tree.
rejuvenation therapy6. Clinically, this drug gives good Amuri was prepared according to Kandar nadi
______________ Vakkiyam, an unpublished Siddha literature6. Well-
* Corresponding author grown plantain (Banana) trees were selected just before
198 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VOL. 5, NO. 2, APRIL 2006

flowering. On the 10th lunar day a window was cut open Frog’s heart in-situ preparation was used for
in neck region of the tree by cutting off small rectangular screening various mechanisms for antihypertension
sheath layers to a depth that reaches the trunk core, and like β-adrenoreceptor and calcium channel blocking
30gm of Guruchunnam (calcined mixture of 50gm activity. Rana hexadactyla Lesson frogs weighing
copper sulphate and 30gm conch shell powder prepared about 80-100 gm were maintained in the animal house
according to Siddha literature) was kept inside the as per CPCSEA guidelines. In all in-vitro studies, the
window. The tree was well irrigated and after five days isolated frog’s heart was perfused with physiological
of the full moon, the tree was cut leaving behind a foot salt solution (frog Ringer solution) and aerated with
length of the trunk at the base. Juice exuding from the carbogen (5%CO2 + 95% O2)9. The myocardial
stump was collected. About 10 L of juice was collected contractions as kymographic tracings were recorded
for five days. The liquid was filtered and exposed to using a frontal lever. The height (amplitude) of
lunar rays during night. Pharmacological studies were contraction was taken as proportional to the force.
undertaken for diuretic, antianxiety and antihypertensive The height recorded for the normal tracings were
activities7-12. considered as 100% and from this contraction for the
For diuretic activity, all animals were fasted and sample and drugs was calculated.
deprived of water for 18 hrs prior to experiment. They The frog heart was perfused with Adrenaline an β-
were divided in to five groups of six animals in each. agonist at 10mcg/ml concentration in frog Ringer
The first group served as control received normal solution for 60 seconds followed by the administration
saline (25 ml/kg bw, po). The second group received of Amuri and the recordings were noted. The frog heart
hydrochlorthiazide (5 mg/kg bw, po) with normal was perfused with Propranalol an β-adrenergic blocker
saline. Group 3rd, 4th, and 5th received Amuri at 6ml, at 10mcg/ml concentration in frog Ringer solution for 60
8ml and 10 ml/kg bw, respectively. Immediately after seconds followed by the administration of Amuri and the
dosing, the animals were placed in metabolic cages recordings were noted. Verapamil, a calcium channel
specially designed to separate urine and faeces kept at blocker at 10mcg/ml concentration in frog Ringer
room temperature 25±0.50C. Urine output during 5 solution was administered for 60 seconds followed by
hrs after dosing was collected in measuring cylinder. Amuri and the recordings were noted.
The collected urine was analyzed for sodium; All the parameters obtained were expressed as
potassium by Elico Flame photometer and chloride mean ± SEM and subjected to one-way ANOVA
concentration was estimated by titration with silver followed by Student’s ‘t’ test.
nitrate solution (N/50) using 5% w/v potassium
chlorate as indicator. Results and discussion
To evaluate antianxiety activity, albino mice of either Diuretics are the agents, which create a decrease in
sex weighing between 20-25 gm were divided in to three extra cellular volume resulting in cardiac output, thus
groups of six animals in each. First group served as lowering of hypertension. Treatment with Amuri
control and treated with vehicle. Second group treated exhibited significant diuretic activity (p<0.001) by
with Diazepam (4 mg/kg, bw, ip) suspended in 1% w/v increasing the volume of urine and increasing the
gum Acacia and third group received Amuri (8ml/kg, concentration of sodium and potassium ions. Amuri at
bw, po). One hour after administration of the drug, dose of 6 ml acted as aquaretic, kaliuretic and
animals were placed on the rotating rod and falling time cholouretic. Hydrochlorthiazide (5mg/kg, bw)
for each animal was recorded. The rate of rotation of rod increase the urine volume by three fold while Amuri
was adjusted such that normal mice can stay for at a dose of 10 ml/kg, bw by 2.5 fold as compared to
appreciable period of time. control (Table 1).
Table 1⎯ Effect of Amuri on diuretic activity in rats
Group Treatment Dose (ml or mg/kg) Urine Volume (ml/rat) Sodium (mEq/L) Potassium (mEq/L) Chloride (mEq/L)
1 Normal saline 25 0.6±0.05 113±6.1 105±6.2 133±6.3
2 Hydrochlorthiazide 5 2.0±0.11* 144±5.3 125±6.3 96±5.3
3 Amuri 6 0.8±0.04 78±3.23 112±4.3 132±3.1
4 Amuri 8 1.1±0.08* 65±3.1 75±5.2 115±5.2
5 Amuri 10 1.5±0.08* 50±3.3 60±3.2 110±4.3
Each value is the mean of ± SEM, n = 6, * p<0.001 compare to control by student’s test, one-way ANOVA; Degrees of freedom (7.40)
 JAIPRAKASH et al.: ANTIHYPERTENSIVE ACTIVITY OF AMURI 199

Anxiety, an unpleasant state of tension with antihypertensive activity. Detailed study on

symptoms like tachycardia, sweating and palpitation, preparation of Amuri, its physicochemical
which involves sympathetic activation, directly leads characteristic and analysis of mineral contents was
to hypertension. As these symptoms can be treated established. It was observed that the content of
with antianxiety drugs, antihypertensives can be potassium, molybdenum and phosphorous in liquids
evaluated by this methodology. One of the from trees treated with Guru chunnam was more as
pharmacological activities of antianxiety is muscle compared to untreated trees13. Potassium is essential
relaxant activity. Amuri at a dose of 8ml/kg, bw did for smooth flow of communication signal from cell to
not show significant antianxiety activity compared to cell and its deficiency leads to diseases like cardiac
control. Whereas diazepam (4mg/kg, bw) indicated stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetics and
significant activity (P<0.001) compared to control hypertension14.
(Table 2). Catecholamines have been used as the main
Pretreatment with adrenaline increased the heart therapeutic agents in the treatment of congestive
rate and force of contraction. Amuri from Musa heart failure. The use of cathecholamines is limited
paradasiaca L. produced significant positive by their insufficient differentiation between
ionotropic and negative chronotropic effect similar to positive ionotropic and chronotropic actions. This
that of digoxin on isolated frog heart. Amuri produced is the reason to look for an alternative agent that
a significant increase in the force of contraction and prevents the toxicity by these agents. A number of
heart rate. Propranalol not antagonized the effect non-pharmacological approaches serve for reducing
produced by Amuri, where as Verapamil antagonized blood pressure. These include exercise, salt
the effect produced by Amuri. The action of Amuri on restriction, restriction of alcohol, and low fat and
isolated frog heart was not dose dependent (Table 3). high fibre diet. Other dietary approaches that have
Amuri, a primodial drug in Siddha System of gained popularity are increase in dietary potassium,
Medicine is prepared according to Kandhar nadi magnesium and calcium15-17. Studies have reported
Vakkiyam. In the present study, liquid extract from inverse association between calcium intake and
plaintain juice from Musa paradisiaca L. with Guru blood pressure18.
chunnam was screened for its claimed Amuri elicited powerful antihypertensive activity,
which was characterized by positive ionotropic and
Table 2⎯ Antianxiety activity of Amuri in mice negative chronotropic actions. This effect was not
SL. NO Control# Diazepam # Amuri # blocked by propranalol, where as verapamil a calcium
channel blocker antagonized the effect significantly.
01 37 06 38
02 44 05 38
From the results, it is concluded that Amuri exhibits
03 38 06 35 strong diuretic effect, β-adrenoreceptor and calcium
Mean 39.66 ± 2.186 5.66 ± 03.33 * 37 ± 1.0** channel blocking activity. The present study clearly
# Falling time in seconds, ANOVA test, * statistically
substantiates the clinical studies on Amuri, which is
significant (p<0.001), sufficient to fulfill the claim mentioned in traditional
** Statistically not significant literature.
Table 3⎯ Effect of Amuri on isolated frog heart
Frog’s Ringer Frogs Ringer + Propranalol Frogs Ringer + Verapamil
Amuri/Drugs
(10 mcg/ml) (10 mcg/ml)
% Heart % Force % Heart % Force % Heart % Force
rate contraction rate contraction rate contraction
Adrenaline (10mcg/ml) 172 ±5.12 260 ±7.22 110 ±4.42 195 ±6.64 - -
Digoxin (10mcg/ml) 68 ±3.84 288 ±6.41 - - 53 ±2.67 201 ±5.94
Amuri (0.2 ml) 64 ±2.45* 293 ±4.45* 66±4.45 252 ±3.56 55 ±7.42 175 ±7.42
Amuri (0.4 ml) 68±3.12* 291±3.43* 68±3.44 255±4.46 55±4.45 172±4.34
Amuri (0.6 ml) 68±3.45* 293±4.44* 67±4.46 262±4.38 56±4.28 175±5.12
Amuri (0.8 ml) 68±5.2* 293±5.41* 68±4.47 260±5.10 56±5.18 174±4.44
Control values; Heart rate: 70 + 2.25 (100%), Force of contraction: 20 + 0.04 (100%)
Values are mean ± SEM, one way ANOVA, n = 6, *P<0.001
200 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VOL. 5, NO. 2, APRIL 2006

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