# An Exploratory Single-Arm Clinical Trial on Eucommia Ulmoides Leaf Extract Effects on Blood Pressure, Oxidative Stress, and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) in Individuals With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease

## TL;DR

This study found that Tochu leaf extract may help lower blood pressure and oxidative stress, especially in people with early-stage chronic kidney disease.

## Contribution

The study explores the effects of Tochu leaf extract on blood pressure and oxidative stress in individuals with and without chronic kidney disease.

## Key findings

- Tochu leaf extract significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in participants, especially those with chronic kidney disease.
- The extract also lowered oxidative stress and increased atrial natriuretic peptide levels in participants.
- The effects were more pronounced in CKD patients with hypertension.

## Abstract

Eucommia ulmoides (Tochu) has been shown to possess a variety of beneficial effects on profiles affecting the onset of lifestyle- or aging-related diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or obesity. This exploratory single-arm clinical study was conducted on a total of 17 participants including those with mild chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n = 9), who were administered a tablet product containing Tochu leaf extract for a short period (median: 33 days), to investigate its effects on blood pressure or related clinical markers. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of all the participants significantly decreased from 128.3 ± 12.3 mmHg at the start to 123.8 ± 10.2 mmHg at the end of the administration (p < 0.05). Analysis of CKD patients alone, however, revealed that SBP, to a greater extent, decreased from 130.7 ± 12.9 mmHg to 121.2 ± 10.7 mmHg (p < 0.01), while the change in non-CKD patients was not significant. Furthermore, SBP decrease in CKD patients with hypertension (n = 7) alone was also significant and comparable. Mean blood oxidative stress index of all participants was decreased from 300.2 ± 76.7 U.CARR to 285.9 ± 63.0 U.CARR (p < 0.05), while median atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) of all the participants was increased from 8.1 (5.0–9.6) pg/mL to 8.8 (5.8–12.1) pg/mL (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that Tochu-derived components may have potential therapeutic benefit at earlier stages in CKD, which could fill the gaps in currently underserved opportunities for prevention or intervention.

Trial Registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000050727