Fabian C Amaechina1
,
Enitome E Bafor1,
Josephine O Ofeimu2,
Buniyamin Ayinde2,
Bukhari Mahmud3,
Adaeze P Uchendu1,
Eric KI Omogbai1
For correspondence:- Fabian Amaechina Email: amaefabs@uniben.edu Tel: +234 8023303138
Published: 17 December 2021
Citation: Amaechina FC, Bafor EE, Ofeimu JO, Ayinde B, Mahmud B, Uchendu AP, et al. Blood pressure lowering effect of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta Linn (Euphorbiaceae) in normotensive Wistar rats. J Sci Pract Pharm 2021; 8(1):425-431 doi: 10.47227/jsppharm.v8i1.5
© 2021 The author(s).
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Purpose: The aqueous extract of Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) was evaluated for hypotensive effect in normotensive Wistar rats at the dose of 0.625-40 mg/kg. Methods: The aqueous extract of the aerial parts of E. hirta was evaluated for hypotensive effects in thiopentone/urethane (20/1250 mg/kg) anaesthetized normotensive Wistar rats in the presence and absence of atropine (1.0 mg/kg), at the graded doses of 2.5-40 mg/kg. Results: The aqueous extract of E. hirta caused a dose-dependent decrease in the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure in normotensive Wistar rats. The extract significantly reduced the systolic blood pressure from resting blood pressure levels of 125.63 ± 4.27 to 1363.6 ± 2.92 (p < 0.01), 107.41 ± 5.45 (p < 0.05), 102.03 ± 4.61 (p < 0.01), 98.93 ± 4.57 (p < 0.01) at the doses of 0.625, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 40.0 mg/kg respectively, while the effect of the extract at the doses of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg respectively of 114.43 ± 6.36 and 113.8 ± 5.76 mmHg were not significant (p > 0.05). Atropine (1 mg/kg) abolished the dose-dependent hypotensive effect of the extract. Conclusion: We conclude that the aqueous extract of E. hirta has hypotensive effect in normotensive Wistar rats.
