ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
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.
Accepted 22 December, 2010
Abstract
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.
Keywords: Blood pressure, Nauclea latifolia root, phytochemical.