Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Selected Vegetables Reduce Blood Pressure and Improve Cardiac Functions in Male Rats with Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction

Salisu T. F.(1), Oloyo A. K.(2), Okpuzor J. E.(3), Jaja S. I.(4),


(1) Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
(2) Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
(3) Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
(4) Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
Corresponding Author

Abstract


Background: General belief of preventive and beneficial effect of vegetable consumption on cardiovascular diseases requires scientific investigation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of five selected vegetables (Basella. alba, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Launaea taraxacifolia, Senecio biafrae and Solanum nigrum) on blood pressure and cardiac functions in isoproterenol-treated myocardial infarction male rats.

Materials and Methods: Dried ground leaves (350 g of each vegetable) were extracted at room temperature (26oC) with 3 L of water via maceration. Rats (150-200 g) were randomly divided into 14 groups of 6 rats each. Groups 1 and 8 served as normal and isoproterenol controls respectively, Groups 2 to 6 received 200 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) of each extract, Groups 9 to 14 were pretreated with each extract (200 mg/kg b.wt.) and then isoproterenol (20 mg/kg b.wt.; subcutaneously) to induce myocardial infarction (days 29 and 30). Group 7 was administered mixture of all the extracts in ratio 1:1:1:1:1, while Group 14 received extracts mixture and isoproterenol. Vegetable extracts were administered for 28 days. Blood pressure (BP) was measured via arterial cannulation under urethane and alpha-chloralose anaesthasia. C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured in cardiac puncture-collected blood samples using commercially available kits.

Results: Pretreatment of the rats with vegetable extracts significantly reduced (p<0.05) BP and the plasma levels of CRP, LDH, CK, AST in isoproterenol-treated rats.

Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that selected vegetables extract reduced BP and improved cardiac functions in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction male rats. Keywords: Basella alba, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Launaea taraxacifolia, Senecio biafrae, Solanum nigrum, blood pressure, C-reactive protein, myocardial infarction.


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