COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTENSIVE EFFECTS OF THE SEED AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM (Moringaceae) IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

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COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTENSIVE EFFECTS OF THE SEED AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM (Moringaceae) IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

Abstract:

Moringa oleifera is locally used in Nigeria for the management of respiratory disorders, hypertension and poor blood circulation among other ailments. However, all parts of the plant are blindly used because the exact part of this plant and / or extractive solvent that provides the best of its cardiovascular or optimum hypotensive activity has not been reported. The impetus of this research work therefore is to compare the crude extracts of the leaf and seed of Moringa oleifera in their two solvent forms respectively, aqueous and methanol for the leaf; and methanol and pet-ether for the seed, since the seed is very oily for aqueous extraction. The phytochemical constituents of the leaf and seed extracts of Moringa oleifera were determined. The effect of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed extracts on cat blood pressure and guinea pig heart atria were investigated. Intravenous injection of drugs and test solutions injected through the femoral vein into a cannulated artery was used to investigate effects of drugs on arterial blood pressure in male cats. The effects of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed extracts on isolated guinea pig heart atria and on isoprenaline and Calcium chloride induced contraction, as well as interactions on specific receptor mediation (Cholinergic, Histaminergic and Adrenergic) as to elucidate the probable underlying receptor mechanism(s) involved in the actions of the extracts were also investigated. The aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of M. oleifera contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, steroids and triterpenes, while anthraquinone was absent. The methanol seed extract of M. oleifera contained carbohydrates, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and cardiac glycosides with no flavonoids, steroids and triterpenes, but its pet-ether seed extract had only carbohydrates and alkaloids. The results revealed that the standard depressor agent, acetylcholine causes vii a fall on blood pressure and both the leaf and seed extracts of Moringa oleifera lowered the blood pressure of cats in a dose dependent manner, but in varying degree. Both the aqueous and the methanol leaf extracts demonstrated a higher hypotensive property than the seed extracts which showed milder hypotensive effect, with its methanol seed extract causing slightly more relaxation of the arterial system. The aqueous and methanol extracts of the leaves as well as the methanol seed extract inhibited adrenaline induced contraction of the cat blood pressure and caused blockade that was not reversed with higher concentration of adrenaline. Propranolol enhanced the relaxing effect of all the extracts in a manner that is synergistic including that of the petether seed extract which was not able to block adrenaline contraction. Mepyramine (antihistamine,) potentiate the depressor effect of the aqueous and methanol leaf extracts. The cholinergic antagonist, (atropine), blocked only the aqueous leaf extract and showed no effect on the methanol leaf and both seed extracts. All the extracts exhibited a concentration-dependent reduction in both rate and force of the guinea pig atria spontaneous contraction, except the methanol seed extract which decreased only the rate of contraction. Similarly, all the extracts of the leaf and seed inhibited isoprenaline and calcium chloride induced guinea pig atria contraction. In conclusion, the aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of the plant were found to cause higher depressor effects than the seed extracts; and the extracts antagonistic actions on adrenaline contraction suggests adrenergic receptor mediation activity. The in-vitro blockade of calcium chloride-induced contraction also seemed to suggest the opening of calcium channels as part of the mode of activity of the extracts in their constrictor actions.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTENSIVE EFFECTS OF THE SEED AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM (Moringaceae) IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

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