THE PREPARATION OF EXTRACTS FROM OXIDIZED MARINE AND OTHER OILS FOR REDUCING THE BLOOD PRESSURE IN EXPERIMENTAL AND HUMAN CHRONIC HYPERTENSION

¹ From The Department of Experimental Medicine, The Southwestern Medical College, Dallas, Texas

A number of refined oils derived from marine fishes when administered orally are effective in reducing the blood pressure in experimentally induced hypertension in laboratory animals (rats, dogs). Comparable effects were elicited in three human patients suffering from hypertension.

Among oils of vegetable and animal origin, only tung oil was found to have an effect in reducing the blood pressure in hypertensive animals.

Oxidation enhances the activity of certain oils; saponification prior to oxidation in some cases further increases their effectiveness. The blood pressure reducing capacity of the oils is independent of their original vitamin A content, and is retained after destruction of this vitamin by oxidation.

Fractional separation of the oil by distillation in vacuo, freezing, or distribution between aqueous organic solvents, partially effects a concentration of the effective blood pressure reducing agent. By adsorption on a synthetic resin and desorption with aqueous alkali, it is possible to obtain the active principle in aqueous solution.