Background:
Adansonia digitata leaves are utilized in traditional medicine for the treatment of hypertension in Senegal.
Aim:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the vasorelaxant effects of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Adansonia digitata (ADF) on rat mesenteric, carotid, femoral arteries, and thoracic aorta.
Methods:
Rat mesenteric, carotid, femoral arteries, and thoracic aorta rings were suspended in organ chambers for recording changes in isometric forces. They were then balanced for 45 minutes to a basal tension of 1 g and contracted with a KCl solution (80 mM) to verify the integrity of the arteries. After washing with Krebs solution and returning to a basal tension of 1 g, the rings were contracted again with phenylephrine (1 μM) until the concentration plateau was reached, then released by adding acetylcholine (ACh, 1 μM). Vessels were considered to have functional endothelium when acetylcholine induced a relaxation greater than 90%. In some experiments, the endothelium was removed before contraction with phenylephrine and concentration-relaxation responses to ADF were measured.
Results:
ADF produced 91.43%, 72.08%, 68.89%, and 71.32% relaxation, respectively, in superior mesenteric, carotid, femoral arteries, and thoracic aorta at 10 µg/ml in endothelium-intact arteries pre-contracted with phenylephrine.
Conclusion:
Adansonia digitata induces vasodilation, which may explain its antihypertensive effect and its use in traditional African medicine.
Key words: Adansonia digitata, Vasorelaxant, Rat arteries
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