Antihypertensive effects of the methylene chloride leaf extract of Celtis durandii Engler (Ulmaceae) on rats

Celtis durandii (Ulmaceae), one of the plants used in traditional medicine to cure migraine, epilepsy,and high blood pressure, was administrated as antihypertensive in normotensive rats (NTR) and hypertensive saline rats (HSR). The antihypertensive effects of the methylene chloride extract of the plant were evaluated in NTR and HSR by the invasive method. Results indicated that C. durandii induce a decreased blood pressure after administration of the extract. This sudden decrease was followed by a slight increase, and then by an antihypertensive late activity of the extract that lasted for one hour. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, the antihypertensive late activity of C. durandii extract was 42% in NTR and 65.21% in HSR. The urinary excretion of Na+ increased by 260% and 475% respectively in NTR and HSR at the dose of 300 mg/kg while that of K+ increased by 260% and 123% in the same animals at the same dose. The results suggest that C durandii possesses an antihypertensive activity that could result from its diuretic effects. This activity could be explained by decrease of surrounding resistances.Keywords : Celtis durandii, Blood pressure, Hypotension, Diuretic, Rat

Antihypertensive effects of the aqueous extract leaves of celtis durandii engler (ulmaceae) on rat

Celtis durandii (Ulmaceae), one of the plants used in traditional medicine to cure migraine, epilepsy, and high blood pressure was evaluated for antihypertensive activity in normotensive rats (NTR) and hypertensive saline rats (HSR), by the invasive method. Results indicated that C. durandii induce a decreased blood pressure after administration of the extract. This sudden decrease is followed by a slight increase, and then by an antihypertensive late activity of the extract that lasts for one hour. At a dose of 35 mg /kg, the antihypertensive late activity of C. durandii extract was 40% in NTR and 36% in HSR. The urinary excretion of Na+ increased by 513 % and 913%, respectively, in NTR and HSR at dose of 300 mg/kg while that of K+ increased by 82 % and 212% in the same animals at same dose. The results suggest that C durandii possesses an antihypertensive activity that could result from its diuretic effects. This activity could be explained by decrease of surrounding resistances.Key words:   Celtis durandii, blood pressure, diuretic, rat

Acute Toxic Effects of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Celtis durandii Engler (Ulmaceae) on Mice.

Celtis durandii (Ulmaceae), one of the plants used in traditional medicine to cure migraine, epilepsy, and high blood pressure was submitted to an acute toxicity study in mice. Different doses of plant extract were administered at once orally to 8groups of 10 each. The mortality rate was evaluated after 48 hours. The macroscopic, biochemical and histological modifications were determined seven days later. The optimal tolerated dose was 9 g/kg. The mean lethal dose (LD50) and the total lethal dose (LD100) were respectively 14.10 g/kg and 18 g/kg with a mortality rate of 42 %. The aqueous doses of Celtis duranndii extract of 3 15 g/kg provoked a significant and dose-dependent decrease in the serum protein levels from 6.79 % to 63.04 %. Creatinine, cholesterol and liver proteins increased. Histological analysis conducted for higher dose of plant extract (15-18 g/kg) revealed a vascular congestion, a necrosis of hepatocytes, and an overcharge of lipid (steatose). The extract caused increase in both ALT and AST serum levels with that of AST higher as reflected in number of organs capable of releasing it. The increase in transaminases might in part be due to its chemical (steroid) constituent, since steroids are known to interfere with the integrity of liver and kidney. The histology of kidneys indicated blood vessel congestion, a slight glomerulosclerosis and accumulation of intratubular fibres occupying the light of tubules. The lethal concentration (LD50) was 3 times higher than 5 g/kg, thus C. durandii relatively seems to be less toxic and possesses an important therapeutic activity.Keywords:  Celtis durandii, Acute toxicity, Mice, Histopathology

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Adansonia digitata Stem Bark on the Development of Hypertension in L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rat Model

Background. Adansonia digitata is a plant used against cardiovascular disorders in African folk medicine. We assessed the effects of the aqueous extract of its stem bark on the development of hypertension in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Methods. The animals were administered L-NAME once daily for 3 weeks (25 mg/kg, i.p.), concomitantly with aqueous extract of A. digitata stem bark (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) or captopril (20 mg/kg, p.o.). Then, hemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters, oxidative stress markers, and the lipid profile were assessed in the blood and heart, aorta, and kidney homogenates, and histopathological analyses were performed. Results. L-NAME-induced hypertensive control animals, but not the animals concomitantly treated with A. digitata extract, displayed increases in the mean arterial blood pressure (21.64% difference, p<0.001, vs. dose 200 mg/kg), systolic arterial blood pressure (21.33%, p<0.001), and the diastolic arterial blood pressure (21.84%, p<0.001). In addition, hypertensive control animals displayed (i) increases in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, and creatinine levels, malondialdehyde and transaminase activities, and atherogenic index; (ii) decreases in serum HDL, catalase, reduced glutathione, and nitric oxide; and (iii) aorta wall thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cell loss in the cardiac muscle and renal tissues. As captopril, the extract prevented hypertension-like changes in lipid profile, cardiac, hepatic, and renal affection indicators, and oxidative stress markers. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the extract of A. digitata has antihypertensive and antioxidant effects in L-NAME-induced hypertension rat models. These effects partly justify the traditional medicine use against cardiovascular disorders