Abstract
BackgroundSenecio serratuloides DC is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension, skin disorders, internal and external sores, rashes, burns and wounds. This study aimed at investigating the antihypertensive effects of the hydroethanol extract of S. serratuloides (HESS) in N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced hypertension in rats.Methods: Acute toxicity of HESS was first determined to provide guidance on doses to be used in this study. Lorke’s method was used to determine safety of the extract in mice. Female Wistar rats were treated orally once daily with L-NAME (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and then concomitantly with L-NAME (20 mg/kg) and plant extract (150 and 300 mg/kg), captopril (20 mg/kg) or saline as per assigned group for 2 weeks followed by a 2-week period of assigned treatments only. Blood pressure was monitored weekly. Lipid profile, nitric oxide, renin and angiotensin II concentrations were determined in serum while mineralocorticoid receptor concentration was quantified in the kidney homogenate. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration was determined in serum and cardiac histology performed.ResultsHESS was found to be non-toxic, having a LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. Blood pressure increased progressively in all animals from the second week of L-NAME treatment. HESS treatment significantly and dose-dependently lowered systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.01) and triglycerides (p < 0.01). It significantly prevented L-NAME induced decrease in serum angiotensin II (p < 0.01), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001) and serum nitric oxide concentrations (p < 0.001). HESS also significantly (p < 0.01) prevented collagen deposition in cardiac tissue.ConclusionThe hydro-ethanol extract of Senecio serratuloides showed antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic and cardioprotective effects in rats thus confirming its usefulness in traditional antihypertensive therapy and potential for antihypertensive drug development.
Highlights
Senecio serratuloides DC is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension, skin disorders, internal and external sores, rashes, burns and wounds
Effect of hydroethanol extract of S. serratuloides (HESS) on systolic and diastolic blood pressures Both Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP increased significantly in all treatment groups compared to normotensive control (NT) group from weeks 2–4 of N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treatment
Co-treatment with HESS and L-NAME for 2 weeks and treatment with HESS or normal saline only for 2 more weeks revealed that in weeks 5 and 6, CPT and HESS300 significantly decreased SBP by 7 and 1% respectively compared to 13% increase in LN group
Summary
Senecio serratuloides DC is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension, skin disorders, internal and external sores, rashes, burns and wounds. Hypertension is a growing public health concern in sub-Saharan countries where it was previously not reported In this population, HTN is characterized by a rapid onset, poor control and an early onset of target organ damage [2]. S. serratuloides is widely used in the South African traditional medicine, it’s medicinal properties have not received much scientific attention Extracts of this plant are reported to have antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities [13, 14]. There is no scientific report on the use of S. serratuloides in the treatment of hypertension, another member of the Genus, Senecio nutans which is native to South America has demonstrated antihypertensive and hypotensive effects in rats [15]. Studies have demonstrated the usefulness of plant flavonoids in the prevention of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia [17] though these properties have not been evaluated for S. serratuloides
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