+44 330 818 7254A. Souza, 2M. Lamidi, B. Ibrahim, R. R. R. Aworet Samseny, M. Boukandou Mounanga, B. M’Batchi.
Citrus aurantifolia is used in African folk medicine for the management of hypertension. In order to provide a scientific basis for this use, we studied the effects of an aqueous extract ofCitrus aurantifolia (Ecita) on arterial blood pressure and on isolated heart and aorta activities. Rabbits were used for the study on the arterial blood pressure using a Ludwig manometer. Albino Wistar rats were used for the studies regarding the isolated heart and aorta activities using isolated organ bath systems. Ecita (4mg/kg-16mg/kg b.w) produced a dose-dependent and significant decrease in rabbit blood pressure (p<0.05). This hypotension was not prevented by atropine (2 mg/kg b.w, p>0.05). Ecita (4mg/kg-16mg/kg b.w) dose-dependently reduced hypertension evoked by adrenalin (30 µg/kg b.w.). Ecita (10-8mg/ml-10-2mg/ml) induced both negative inotropic and chronotropic effects on the heart contractile activity. The plant extract (10-8mg/ml-10-2mg/ml) induced a dose-dependent relaxation of contractions produced by adrenalin (3.10-3mM) or by KCl (80mM). Ecita-evoked vasorelaxant effects were totally abolished by removal of the endothelium layer or by a pre-treatment with L-NAME (mg/ml). It was concluded that the extract possesses an antihypertensive activity which could be related to both cardiodepression and the vasorelaxation. Endothelium-dependent mechanisms might be involved.
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