Antihypertensive Property of Celery: A Narrative Review on Current Knowledge

Table 1

Summary of studies on the hypotensive effects of celery.

Author

Total ()

Gender ()

Age

Study design

Celery administration

Results

Male

Female

Administration form

Dosage

Duration

Decrease in blood pressure (mmHg)

Hypertension-related key findings

Control group

Intervention group

Systolic (mmHg)

Diastolic (mmHg)

Animal studies

Moghadam et al. [16]

54

54

—

N/A

Experimental

G6 (PC): spironolactone; G7, 8 (NC): NS 0.9% and liquid paraffin

G1, 2, 3: hexanic extract; G4: methanolic extract; G5: aqueous-ethanolic extracts; G9: NS 0.9% and hexanic extract

G1: 100 mg/kg; G2: 200 mg/kg; G3, 4, 5: 300 mg/kg; G9: 0.5 ml of NS (0.9%), then 300 mg/kg

3 weeks

G3: 38 mmHg; G4: 24 mmHg; G5: 23 mmHg

N/A

(i) All types of celery extracts cause a reduction in SBP and increased HR in hypertensive groups but not the normotensive group; (ii) Hexanic extract contains 3.7 to 4 more n-butylphthalide content than methanolic and aqueous-ethanolic extract, respectively

Sohrabi et al. [19]

105

105

—

N/A

Experimental

—

Ethanolic celery seed extract

0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/ml

N/A

—

—

(i) Celery seed extract has endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects in rat’s aortic rings; (ii) There are two possible relaxation mechanisms: inhibition of calcium influx into smooth muscle cells and activation of voltage-dependent potassium channels

Tashakori-Sabzevar et al. [15]

30

30

—

N/A

Experimental

Nifedipine (calcium blocker agent)

Hexanic extract

2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 mg/kg

N/A

Dose 12.5 mg/kg: 69.5% reduction in normotensive groups and 34.6% in hypertensive groups

Dose 12.5 mg/kg: 80% reduction in normotensive groups and 37.6% in hypertensive groups

(i) Hexanic extract contains more n-butylphthalide than aqueous-ethanolic extract; (ii) Hexanic celery extract significantly reduces SBP, DBP, MABP, and HR in normotensive and hypertensive groups; (iii) Involved mechanisms in celery’s hypotensive effect are vasodilation effect via blocking calcium channels and bradycardia induction; (iv) Celery’s hexanic extract and nifedipine have a similar effect on BP but not HR

Dianat et al. [17]

40

40

—

N/A

Experimental

1: tap water; 2: fructose extract

Methanol celery leaf extract

100 and 200 mg/kg

7 weeks

N/A

N/A

(i) There is a significant reduction in SBP in groups receiving fructose and celery extract in comparison with fructose group; (ii) No significant HR alteration in any group

Rosa and Rivai [18]

25

25

—

2-3 months

Experimental

NC: distilled water; PC: 8% NaCl and 0.05% prednisone

Celery (whole plant)+garlic (whole)

185 mg/200 g BW, 370 mg/200 g BW, 740 mg/200 g BW

3 weeks

Dose 185 mg; 35.16; Dose 370 mg; 26.71; Dose 740 mg; 45.44

Dose 185 mg; 34.73; Dose 370 mg; 28.16; Dose 740 mg; 38.85

(i) Hypotension effect of combined celery and garlic is significant, and it relies heavily on dose and duration of the treatment

Human studies

Azizah et al. [9]

24

16

8

40-50 years old

Quasiexperiment using the form of pretest and posttest control group design

No treatment

Celery juice

N/A

N/A

17.58

7.08

(i) Significant effect of celery juice on hypertension patients was found; (ii) Celery juice has a strong tolerance to SBP and moderate closeness to DBP

Gautam [20]

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Crossover placebo controlled

Placebo

Celery seed extract

N/A

N/A

11.17

8.005

(i) Significant decrease in BP was found with difference related to gender. Females show a higher response in lowering BP

Ahmad and Rahman [21]

36

9

27

>55 years old

Quantitative experimental study using the form of pretest and posttest nonequivalent control group design

Placebo

Celery extract

N/A

30 days

12.7

7.7

(i) Celery extract has a significant reduction in SBP and DBP in elderly with hypertension

Shayani Rad et al. [22]

52

26

26

29-63 years old

Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, clinical trial

Placebo

Ethanolic celery seed extract

1.34 g extract/day

4 weeks

11

8

(i) There is a significant decrease in both SBP and DBP after celery extract treatment; (ii) Celery is considered safe for hypertension patients with positive effect on BG and lipid profile; (iii) There is no change in HR in both control and intervention groups

Zafar et al. [23]

30

—

30

18-45 years old

Controlled randomized trial

No treatment

Ethanolic celery stem extract

250 mg/day

60 days

19.59

15.12

(i) There is a significant decrease in both SBP and DBP after celery extract treatment; (ii) There is a notable change in HR

Shayani Rad et al. [12]

51

26

25

20-70 years old

Triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover

Placebo

Ethanolic celery seed extract

1.34 g extract/day

4 weeks

11.08

6.54

(i) There is a significant decrease in both SBP and DBP after celery extract treatment

Illes [13]

1

1

—

74 years old

Case report

—

Celery juice

10-12 stalks

6 months

32

N/A

(i) Positive response to include celery juice into daily regimen

Abbreviations: N/A: not applicable; G: group; PC: positive control; NC: negative control; NS: normal saline; BP: blood pressure; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; HR: heart rate; BG: blood glucose; MABP: mean arterial blood pressure.