Abstract
Purpose: To examine 70 % aqueous-methanol crude extract of Crotalaria burhia (Cb.Cr) for its hypotensive and diuretic effects.
 Methods: The effect of intravenous administration of Cb.Cr on blood pressure (BP) of normotensive anesthetized rats was studied. In vitro experiments on rabbit isolated aortic and atrial preparations were performed to elucidate the mechanism of action. The diuretic effect was assessed following oral administration of Cb.Cr in rats.
 Results: Intravenous administration of Cb.Cr produced 14.70 ± 1.21, 22.00 ± 2.24 and 36.21 ± 2.65 % reduction in mean arterial blood pressure of the rats at doses of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. It was more potent in relaxing potassium (80 mM)- than phenylephrine (1 μM)-induced contractions in isolated aorta of rabbit with half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 0.58 ± 0.03 and 1.58 ± 0.16 mg/mL, respectively, which are similar to verapamil. The extract showed depressant effects on spontaneously beating atrial preparations of rabbit in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Cb.Cr also increased urine volume and urinary electrolyte excretion in rats.
 Conclusion: Crotalaria burhia crude extract exhibits hypotensive and diuretic effects in rats. The hypotensive activity of the extract possibly involves vasodilator, cardio-depressant, calcium channel blocking and diuretic actions.
 Keywords: Khip, Crotalaria burhia, Calcium channel blocker, Antihypertensive, Diuretic
Highlights
Hypertension is a progressive pathological problem and causes serious health threat if left untreated
The results revealed that intravenous administration of Cb.Cr caused 14.70 ± 1.21, 22.00 ± 2.24 and 36.21 ± 2.65 % reductions in Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) at doses of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg, respectively (Figure 1)
The result of present study eliminates possibility of muscarinic receptors involvement in blood pressure (BP) lowering effect of the extract, and suggests that the decrease in MABP of anesthetized normotensive rats by the Cb.Cr is due to the mechanism similar to verpamail, which blocks calcium channels
Summary
Hypertension is a progressive pathological problem and causes serious health threat if left untreated. Crotalaria burhia Buch.-Ham, known locally as Khip, is a fibrous plant belonging to this family It is commonly found in arid parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India [7]. Animals were euthanized and their thoracic aorta was removed, cleaned and cut into 2-3 mm wide rings to be used for the study These aortic rings were separately mounted in a 15 mL organ bath, which was filled with solution of Krebs-Henseleit with pH 7.4 and maintained at 37°C. Vasodilator effects of the studied extract were observed by adding it or the standard drug in increasing doses and in a cumulative manner on aortic rings which were formerly contracted with either potassium (80 mM) or phenylephrine (1 μM). The plant extract was given orally to the study groups at different doses. Values of p < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant
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