Journal of
Physiology and Pathophysiology

  • Abbreviation: J. Physiol. Pathophysiol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-260X
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPAP
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 54

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of Gmelina arborea, Roxb (Verbenaceae) aqueous extract on arterial pressure of Wistar rats

Roland Lawson
  • Roland Lawson
  • Unité de Physiologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
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Bonaventure Awede
  • Bonaventure Awede
  • Unité de Physiologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
  • Google Scholar
Razack Osseni
  • Razack Osseni
  • Unité de Physiologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
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Fernand Gbaguidi
  • Fernand Gbaguidi
  • Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie et des Huiles Essentielles, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé - Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
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Joachim Gbenou
  • Joachim Gbenou
  • Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie et des Huiles Essentielles, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé - Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
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Anatole Laleye
  • Anatole Laleye
  • Unité de Biologie Humaine, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
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  •  Received: 31 May 2015
  •  Accepted: 10 December 2015
  •  Published: 31 January 2016

Abstract

In this study, the effect of Gmelina arborea aqueous extract, a medicinal plant used in the treatment of hypertension, on rat blood pressure was investigated. After harvest, leaves of G. arborea were dried, reduced in powder and used for aqueous extract preparation. The aqueous extract was administrated at 500 mg/kg/day to Wistar rats, which has been made hypertensive by NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), treatment at 20 mg/kg/day. Alkaloid compounds, tannins, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, mucilages and saponins were detected in G. arborea leaves. 7 and 14 days administration of L-NAME induced an increase of mean arterial blood pressure from 99±4 mmHg to respectively 155±2 and 179±10 mmHg. G. arborea leaves extract reduced these blood pressures to respectively 126±13 and 147±7 mmHg. These data confirm the antihypertensive effect of G. arborea leaves. Further investigations will analyze the active compounds and the molecular mechanisms underlying this pharmacological effect.

Key words:  Hypertension, L-NAME, medicinal plant, G. arborea.