Abstract
This work investigated the effects of the ethanolic extract (EEJg) of aerial parts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. and its aqueous (AFJg) and chloroformic (CFJg) fractions on the blood pressure and vascular reactivity (VR) in normotensive Wistar rats (NWR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In anaesthetized NWR, the EEJg and its fractions reduced mean blood pressure (MAP). The oral administration of EEJg (100 mg/kg/bw), for 8 weeks, did not alter MAP and heart rate in the non-anesthetized SHR. VR was determined in mesenteric artery rings, with the EEJg and fractions inhibiting the contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA, 10-9 to 10-4 M) in NWR, but not in SHR. In addition, the CFJg inhibited the contractile response to calcium (CaCl2, 10-6 to 10-2 M). These results suggest that J. gossypiifolia L. has no effect on the hypertensive factors in SHR, which is a model of polygenic hypertension, but indicate the presence of substances with hypotensive activity, which act directly on the adrenoceptor and/or decrease calcium mobilization in NWR. Key words: Jatropha gossypiifolia L., vascular reactivity, hypertension, calcium, mesenteric artery.
Highlights
For centuries plants offered the only source of therapeutic agents for humans
Treatment with EEJg did not alter mean blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) compared to the control group (Figure 2a and b)
We evaluated the effects of EEJg and its fractions on the mean blood pressure (MAP) in anaesthetized normotensive rats
Summary
For centuries plants offered the only source of therapeutic agents for humans. At the beginning of the 19th century, with the development of pharmaceutical chemistry, plants became the main source of raw materials for the development of drugs. Folk knowledge on the use of medicinal plants makes a very relevant contribution to the dissemination of the therapeutic benefits of plants and aids researchers in the selection of species for botanical, pharmacological and phytochemical studies.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
