Therapeutic Effects of Pterocarpus santalinoides Stem Bark Aqueous Extract: Evidence from L-NAME-induced Hypertensive Wistar Rats

Chinte Yamjom Ramatou

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon.

Ngo Lemba Tom Esther

Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 47, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Aboubakar Oumarou Bibi Farouck

Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Garoua, P.O. Box 317, Garoua, Cameroon.

Ngueguim Tsofack Florence

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon.

Gounoue Kamkuno Raceline

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon.

Bella Ndzana Martin Thierry

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon.

Dimo Théophile *

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aims: Ethnopharmacological information indicates that the stem bark of Pterocarpus santalinoides is used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases including hypertension. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the stem bark aqueous extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides (AEPS) in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (LNHR).

Methodology: Hypertension was induced in normotensive rats by intraperitoneal administration of L-NAME (25 mg/kg/day) for 42 days. Forty-two animals were divided into two main groups: one group of seven rats (group 1) receiving distilled water (10 mL/kg) and another thirty-five rats receiving L-NAME (group 2). After three weeks of treatment, the hypertensive animals (group 2) were divided into five groups of seven rats each. Animals of the first group received distilled water, those of the second group were treated with captopril (20 mg/kg), and the three last groups received the AEPS (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). These rats were daily treated per os with the above substances for three weeks. At the end of the experimental period (42 days), animals were anesthetized and the blood pressure and heart rate were recorded by invasive method. Afterward, the blood, aorta, and heart of each rat were collected for some biochemical and/or histological examination.

Results: L-NAME administration induced hypertension, as associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, hepatic and renal dysfunctions. Aqueous extract administration significantly improved all these metabolic disorders induced by L-NAME. Furthermore, the remodeling of the aortic media after NO deficiency-induced L-NAME has also been improved by Pterocarpus santalinoides aqueous extract. The therapeutic effect of AEPS against L-NAME-induced hypertension could probably be due to its antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant properties.

Conclusion: Current results confirmed the empirical use of Pterocarpus santalinoides stem bark for the treatment of hypertension in traditional medicine.

Keywords: Hypertension, L-NAME, Pterocarpus santalinoides, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress


How to Cite

Ramatou, Chinte Yamjom, Ngo Lemba Tom Esther, Aboubakar Oumarou Bibi Farouck, Ngueguim Tsofack Florence, Gounoue Kamkuno Raceline, Bella Ndzana Martin Thierry, and Dimo Théophile. 2024. “Therapeutic Effects of Pterocarpus Santalinoides Stem Bark Aqueous Extract: Evidence from L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Wistar Rats”. European Journal of Medicinal Plants 35 (6):234-48. https://doi.org/10.9734/ejmp/2024/v35i61222.