Karachi: About 1.3 million people globally have high blood pressure medically known as hypertension making it number one risk factor for death worldwide.

Research shows person with high blood pressure has an increased risk. Developing other cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, heart failure, fibrillation, and coronary heart disease.

Now researchers from Temple University believe juice concentrate from Japanese plum can help decrease cardiovascular disease risk in people with hypertension and may even assist with preventing high blood pressure. Research was conducted via mouse model. This study was recently published in journal Hypertension Research.

Japanese plum (Prunus mume) is also known as Japanese apricot and is traditionally called 'ume' in Japan.

Dr. Satoru Eguchi professor in Cardiovascular Research Centre at Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Centre and Centre for Metabolic Disease Research at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and senior author of this study said this research was driven by need for alternative therapies than medications for hypertension.