Cardiovascular effects of an n-butanol extract from fresh fruits of Randia siamensis

Warionia saharae induces antihypertensive and vasorelaxant activities through nitric oxide and KATP channels pathways in rats

Background Warionia saharae Bentham & Cosson. is used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases including hypertension. Method The present study was designed to investigate the antihypertensive activity of aqueous extract of Warionia saharae (WSLAE) in anesthetized L-NAME (Nω-L-arginine methyl ester)-induced rats. The acute and sub-chronic effects of WSLAE on systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were investigated after oral administration of the extract (100 mg/kg body weight of WSLAE) during 6 h for the acute experiment and during 7 days for the sub-chronic test. In addition the effect of WSLAE on the contractile response of isolated rat aortic rings was tested and the role of the vascular receptors was evaluated using several drugs. Results The results showed that WSLAE induced a significant decrease in the systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure and HR in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Furthermore, this extract induced relaxation in rings pre-contracted with Epinephrine (10 µM) or with KCl (100 mM). This vasorelaxant capacity seems to be mediated through inhibition of KATP channels and nitric oxide (NO) synthase pathways. Conclusion This study supports the use of Warionia saharae in the management of hypertension in Moroccan traditional medicine.

Chemical Composition, Toxicity and Vasodilatation Effect of the Flowers Extract of Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. "G. Duke of Tuscany"

Phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic Jasmine flower extract of Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. “G. Duke of Tuscany” revealed the mixtures of coumarins, cardiac glycosides, essential oils, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and steroids. However, alkaloids, anthraquinones, and tannins were not detected. By intravenous injection at a single dose of 0.5 mL/mouse (15 mg) of the flower extract, no systemic biological toxicity demonstrated in ICR mice was observed. In Wistar rats, the LD₅₀ of the extract was higher than 5,000 mg/kg BW by oral administration. Vasodilatation effect of the 95% ethanolic extract on isolated aortic rats was also investigated. Compared with the control group, the Jasmine flowers extract in 0.05% DMSO clearly reduced tonus of isolated endothelium thoracic aortic rings preconstricted with phenylephrine (10⁻⁶ M), as a dose-dependent manner. Nevertheless, this pharmacological effect disappeared after the preincubation of the rings with atropine (10⁻⁶ M) or with N^ω-nitro-L-arginine (10⁻⁴ M). These are possibly due to the actions of the active components on the vessel muscarinic receptors or by causing the release of nitric oxide.