11/05/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
In Malaysia, mahogany seeds are used as a folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension. A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food provides scientific evidence on the use of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) seed as a herbal medicine to treat hypertension.
Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, occurs when a person’s pressure of the blood in the blood vessels is higher than it should be. This condition is also called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many individuals do not know they have it. It increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in the U.S. Hypertension affects about 75 million individuals in the U.S. (Related: 10 Worst Foods for Hypertension! Juice That Can Reverse Hypertension Naturally.)
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Malaysia, who looked at the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of mahogany seed extract using both laboratory testing and clinical trials.
For the laboratory testing, they used the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FITR) analysis. For the clinical trial, on the other hand, they orally gave hypertensive mice with three different doses of mahogany seed extract: 250 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), 500 mg/kg, and 1,000 mg/kg each day for four weeks. In addition, they measured the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of mice every week.
The results of the trials revealed that the mahogany seed extract contains stachyose, flavonoids, limonoids, and ester, which may contribute to its vasorelaxant effect. The antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of mahogany seed extract were mediated by voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCC), potassium channels, inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R) inhibitor, G-protein-coupled ?2-adrenergic receptor, and the nitric oxide/soluble guanylyl cyclase/cyclic 3?,5?-guanosine monophosphate (NO/sGC/cGMP) signaling pathways.
In addition, the treatment of mahogany seed extract reduced both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive mice.
The research team concluded that mahogany seed extract has the potential to be used as an herbal remedy for treating hypertension or high blood pressure.
Mahogany seeds, also known as sky fruit seeds, are pulverized to make the powder, which is used to make mahogany tea. The seeds contain about 27 saponins types and 33 flavonoids type, making them nutritionally rich. Mahogany fruit and seeds also contain nutrients, such as proteins, minerals, fatty acids, and vitamins.
They are used for many medicinal purposes. These include the following:
Read more news stories and studies on natural ways to treat hypertension by going to AlternativeMedicine.news.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, heart health, herbal medicine, Herbs, high blood pressure, hypertension, mahogany, mahogany seed extract, mahogany seeds, natural cures, natural healing, natural medicine, natural remedies, Swietenia macrophylla