Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the hypotensive potential of Berberis orthobotrys Bien Ex Aitch (Family: Berberidaceae) in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Methods: Aqueous-methanol (70:30) extract of Berberis orthobotrys at doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg was evaluated for its effect on blood pressure and heart rate using non-invasive blood pressure measuring apparatus. After initial screening, 100 mg/kg dose that produced a maximum effect was selected for the antihypertensive study. Median lethal dose (LD 50 ) and sub-chronic toxicity of the extract were also determined. Various biochemical parameters and organ weight were measured using standard procedures. Results: The extract produced a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure (MBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate of normotensive rats at all test doses with maximum effect at 100 mg/kg. Similarly, a significant antihypertensive and negative chronotropic effect was observed in both hypertensive models. LD 50 of the extract was 200 mg/kg in mice. The extract also exhibited a reduction (p < 0.05) in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels while a significant (p < 0.05) increase in high density lipoproteins (HDL) level was observed. Conclusion: It seems that the aqueous-methanol extract of Berberis orthobotrys possesses active compounds which may be responsible for the antihypertensive and negative chronotropic effects in rats.
Highlights
Cardiovascular diseases have become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world
For the estimation of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL), blood samples were collected in clot activator gel tubes
The aqueous methanol extract of Berberis orthobotrys produced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure (MBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of normotensive rats at the doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases have become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Berberis orthobotrys (Family: Berberidaceae) is a plant indigenous to Pakistan, that is found mostly in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan where local peoples commonly use this for the treatment of hypertension. Basal blood pressure and heart rates were measured at 0 h (Before extract administration). After intraperitoneal administration of various doses of the extract, blood pressure and heart rate of each of these groups were determined from the tails of rats at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h using non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measuring apparatus (IN125, AD Instruments, Sydney, Australia). Animals in group 2 received egg feed diet and aqueous methanol extract of Berberis orthobotrys (100 mg/kg) for the same time period. Animals in group 2 were given 10 % glucose solution and an aqueous methanolic extract of Berberis orthobotrys (100 mg/kg) for same time period. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation for the study of various organs (heart, liver and kidney) weights [15]
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