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Full Length
Research Paper
Preliminary
studies of blood pressure lowering effect of Nauclea
latifolia in rats
Z. A. M. Nworgu1+, D. N. Onwukaeme2,
A. J. Afolayan3, F. C Ameachina1 and
B. A. Ayinde2
1Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of
Pharmacy, University of Benin.
3Department of Botany, Faculty of Science,
University of Fort Hare.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
zamnworgu@yahoo.com. Tel:
2348055158952
Accepted 13 March, 2008 |
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Roots of
Nauclea latifolia are used in Nigeria for the treatment
of hypertension. Ethanolic extract of the root of N.
latifolia was administered to anaesthetised rats through
the jugular vein while the blood pressure was measured
through the carotid artery. The extract reduced systolic,
diastolic, and mean arterial pressure in normotensive and in
one kidney one clip hypertensive rats in a dose dependant
manner. 10 mg/kg of the extract reduced the mean arterial
pressure from 115.7 ± 0.4 to 99.6 ± 3.8 mm Hg, while it
reduced the systolic and diastolic from 125.6 ± 0.5 to 102.4
± 4.0 and from 110.5 ± 0.3 to 95.0 ± 3.2 mm Hg respectively.
The changes caused in hypertensive rats were much greater.
The same dose of the extract reduced the mean arterial
pressure from 157.4 ± 4.7 to 72.0 ± 3.6 mm Hg, while it
reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressures from
180.0 ± 5.7 to 90.1 ± 2.6 and from 146.2 ± 3.3 to 63.0 ± 4.9
mm Hg respectively. The extract (10 mg/kg) also reduced the
heart rate of normotensive rats from 365 ±12.8 to 280 ± 6.0
beats/min, while it reduced the heart rate of hypertensive
rats from 550 ± 22.5 to 120 ± 8.0 beats/min. The reduction
in blood pressure and heart rate was not affected by prior
treatment with atropine or promethazine.
Key
words:
Blood pressure, Nauclea latifolia root, phytochemical. |
