The Acute and Chronic Effects of Co-Administration of Turmeric and Black Pepper Extracts in Genetic Hypertension

High blood pressure is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, it affects many people worldwide and is a public health problem. This study explored the acute and chronic actions of a mixture of turmeric (95% curcumin) plus black pepper (95% piperine) extracts, in the blood pressure pattern in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) along they age. For the acute study male adult (4 - 7 months old) SHR and their control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used. A single oral dose of the mixture of turmeric/black pepper extracts (200 mg/2mg, respectively) suspension was administered. Tail-cuff was used to determine blood pressure during 180 min. For the chronic study, young (1-month-old) male SHR and their control WKY rats were fed with standard chow, or standard chow combined with cocoa, or combined with cocoa plus the mixture