Introduction
Herbal therapy is an important part of medicine due to its safety and
low side effects [1]. Nowadays, many people prefer to use medicinal
herbs. In their opinion, herbals are safe and have lower unwanted side
effects [2-7]. Apium graveolens , generally known as
“celery” has many health benefits and is a pharmaceutical herb used as
a food supplement [8]. Organs of celery, such as seeds, stems,
leaves, roots, and stalks, contain ingredients with antibacterial,
anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, and insecticidal
properties [9]. Celery can play a role in the control of BP, serum
lipid, and diabetes [10, 11]. Compared to other parts of the plant,
celery seeds have more effective ingredients [12, 13]. The celery
seeds contain various active ingredients, including luteolin,
d-limonene, phthalides, apigenin, hesperitin, rosmarinic acid, linalool,
and quercetrin [14-16]. The pharmacological mechanisms of these
active ingredients are discovered and reported in previous studies
[17-20]. Celery contains a group of phytochemicals called
phthalides, e.g. 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), which are from the most
active components in celery seed. NBP helps control stress hormones
which contribute to high BP and reduces bad cholesterol [21, 22]. No
significant toxicologically sub-chronic effects of oral celery were
investigated in rats [23]. One of the therapeutic properties of
celery seed is the hepatoprotective effect which is reported in some
works. [24], cognitive strengthening [22, 25], neuroprotective
effects [22] and anti-hyperglycemic [26]. The most remarkable
therapeutic property of celery reported in the studies is blood pressure
(BP) reduction [27-29]. There is not enough information on the
safety evaluation of celery seed in humans for assurance as a
medication. This clinical trial
study was conducted to evaluate, for short-term, safety of celery seed
extract in hypertensive patients in a randomized, triple-blind,
placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial. The biochemical and
mineral parameters were assessed four times during the study for each
patient. The results were promising and indicated the safety of celery
seed extract as a drug supplement in the management of hypertension.