Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Sep 18:2020:3678469.
doi: 10.1155/2020/3678469. eCollection 2020.

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Adansonia digitata Stem Bark on the Development of Hypertension in L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rat Model

Fidèle Ntchapda  1 , Christian Bonabe  1 , Albert Donatien Atsamo  2 , David Romain Kemeta Azambou  1 , Yannick Bekono Fouda  2 , Soudy Imar Djibrine  3 , Paul F Seke Etet  4 , Dimo Théophile  2
Affiliations

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Adansonia digitata Stem Bark on the Development of Hypertension in L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rat Model

Fidèle Ntchapda et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. .

Abstract

Background: Adansonia digitata is a plant used against cardiovascular disorders in African folk medicine. We assessed the effects of the aqueous extract of its stem bark on the development of hypertension in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

Methods: The animals were administered L-NAME once daily for 3 weeks (25 mg/kg, i.p.), concomitantly with aqueous extract of A. digitata stem bark (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) or captopril (20 mg/kg, p.o.). Then, hemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters, oxidative stress markers, and the lipid profile were assessed in the blood and heart, aorta, and kidney homogenates, and histopathological analyses were performed.

Results: L-NAME-induced hypertensive control animals, but not the animals concomitantly treated with A. digitata extract, displayed increases in the mean arterial blood pressure (21.64% difference, p < 0.001, vs. dose 200 mg/kg), systolic arterial blood pressure (21.33%, p < 0.001), and the diastolic arterial blood pressure (21.84%, p < 0.001). In addition, hypertensive control animals displayed (i) increases in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, and creatinine levels, malondialdehyde and transaminase activities, and atherogenic index; (ii) decreases in serum HDL, catalase, reduced glutathione, and nitric oxide; and (iii) aorta wall thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cell loss in the cardiac muscle and renal tissues. As captopril, the extract prevented hypertension-like changes in lipid profile, cardiac, hepatic, and renal affection indicators, and oxidative stress markers.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the extract of A. digitata has antihypertensive and antioxidant effects in L-NAME-induced hypertension rat models. These effects partly justify the traditional medicine use against cardiovascular disorders.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Oxidative stress indicators. Effects of the aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata on aorta, heart, and kidney levels or activities of (a) nitrite, (b) malondialdehyde, (c) catalase, and (d) reduced glutathione.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Aorta, heart, and kidney histopathology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Tian D., Ling S., Chen G., et al. Hypertensive nephropathy treatment by heart-protecting musk pill: a study of anti-inflammatory therapy for target organ damage of hypertension. International Journal of General Medicine. 2011;4:131–139. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S15235. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Binda D., Nicod L., Viollon-Abadie C., et al. Strain difference (WKY, SPRD) in the hepatic antioxidant status in rat and effect of hypertension (SHR, DOCA). Ex vivo and in vitro data. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2001;218(1/2):139–146. doi: 10.1023/a:1007268825721. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Opie L. H., Seedat Y. K. Hypertension in sub-Saharan African populations. Circulation. 2005;112(23):3562–3568. doi: 10.1161/circulationaha.105.539569. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kingue S., Ngoe C. N., Menanga A. P., et al. Prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in urban areas of Cameroon: a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. 2015;17(10):819–824. doi: 10.1111/jch.12604. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Baradaran A., Nasri H., Rafieian-Kopaei M. Oxidative stress and hypertension: possibility of hypertension therapy with antioxidants. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. 2014;19(4):358–367. - PMC - PubMed