Objective: To observe the effects of the alcohol extract from Coreopsis tinctoria on blood pressure

the content of plasma endothelin (ET)

angiotension Ⅱ (AngⅡ) and calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). Method: The spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were randomly divided into six groups

untreated control

high

middle

low dosage group of the alcohol extract from C. tinctoria(3.2

1.6

0.8 g·kg-1)

captopril group(4 mg·kg-1) and du zhong tablet group(187.5 mg·kg-1). Tail blood pressure were measured every week.After 4 weeks

the contents of plasma ET

AngⅡ and CGRP were detected by radioimmunity method respectively. The left ventricular weight index (LVWI) and cardiac index were monitored too. Result: Compared with model group

the blood pressure of all groups significantly lowered after 4 weeks (P<0.01).The LVWI of all groups was decreased

while the high dosage group and captopril group showed significant difference (P<0.01).The contents of ET and AngⅡ were decreased greatly (P<0.01) in the high

middle dosage group and captopril group

while the contents of plasma CGRP were increased in all group

but showed no significant difference. Conclusion: The alcohol extract from C. tinctoria could significantly reduce blood pressure and improve myocardial hypertrophy in SHR

which might be related to inhibiting RAS and improving the endothelial function.