Effects of Hawthorn and Epicatechin on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Metabolic Rate in Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni
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Authors
Banning, Olivia
Bocquin, Sara
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Hawthorn extract is a homeopathic substance advertised to lower hypertension, heart rate, and metabolic rate in humans. The suspected active ingredient is an oligomeric procyanidin called epicatechin which is thought to stimulate the release of nitric oxide to increase vasodilation and oxygen diffusion to the muscles. In this study, nine Mississippi map turtles will be divided into three groups: a control group (physiological saline injection), a hawthorn experimental group (500 mg/kg hawthorn extract injection), and the epicatechin experimental group (32.58 mg/kg epicatechin powder in physiological saline injection). The turtles will receive injections every other day over the course of four weeks. Metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood pressure will be measured before starting the injections, at the end of week two, and at the end of week four. A FMS field metabolic system will be used to assess the turtles’ standard metabolic rate at 25oC and a BIOPAC unit with electrode leads and a pulse transducer will provide electrocardiograms (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG). F-tests and T-tests will be used to determine if there are differences between the control and experimental groups. We hypothesize that there will be a statistically significant lowering of the metabolic rate, blood pressure, and heart rate of the experimental groups compared to those of the control group, and that the epicatechin powder will have a similar effect on cardiac function and metabolic rate to that of the hawthorn extract.