*2.3. Statistical Analysis*

All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Data from the animal study, and on changes in blood pressure among the three subgroups according to the guideline [4] (<120, 120–130, >130 mmHg) in the human study, were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a post hoc Tukey test in SAS version 9.3. The differences in body weight and in blood pressure of animals at different time points and among groups were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Duncan's multiple-range test. The blood pressure and plasma ET-1 levels of participants at baseline and the end of the study were evaluated using a paired *t*-test. A *p*-value of <0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference.

#### **3. Results**
