Abstract

BIOACTIVITY-SAFETY EVALUATION AND ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECT OF HYDRO- ETHANOL LEAVES EXTRACT OF ACALYPHA GODSEFFIANA ON DOCA-SALT INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN UNILATERAL NEPHRECTOMIZED WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Abiodun I. K.*, Kalu M. U. and Joel O. M.

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Abstract

Patients are often unaware of the important similarities and differences between medicinal herbs and approved medication, and some fail to understand that herbs are composed of bioactive chemicals some which may be toxic. Hypertension constitutes a major risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, renal insufficiency and stroke. This research was aimed to evaluate the bioactivity-safety and antihypertensive effect of hydro- ethanol leaves extract of Acalypha godseffiana on DOCA-salt induced hypertension in unilateral nephrectomized albino rats. Healthy wistar albino rats of both sexes between eight to twelve weeks of age weighing 150 -200g were used for the study. They were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group 1 and 2 served as sham control and negative control, while group 3 to 5 served as test groups treated with 100, 200 and 300mg/kg b.w. of the extract respectively. Uninephrectomy was achieved through the left flank incision and hypertension was induced using DOCA-salt and was measured weekly by non-invasive method. Treatment was by oral administration using gavage and lasted for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and blood was collected through ocular into heparin bottles. All the parameters were analyzed using standard analytical methods. The result showed that the significant (p

Keywords: Deoxycorticosterone acetate, Acalypha godseffiana, hypertension, hydro-ethanol.