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Cardiovascular function in normotensive rats following administration of Cymbopogon citratus and Ocimum gratissimum
Author(s) -
Anigbogu Chikodi Nnanyelu,
Olayeni Azeez
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a473-c
Subject(s) - ocimum gratissimum , cymbopogon citratus , blood pressure , medicine , mean arterial pressure , anesthesia , heart rate , pharmacology , traditional medicine , chemistry , essential oil , chromatography
The effects of the leaf extracts of Cymbopogon citratus (Lemon grass) and Ocimum gratissimum (Ewe efirin), which are extensively used in African folk medicine, on cardiovascular function were studied in Sprague‐Dawley rats. The anaesthetized rats were cannulated using polythene catheters filled with heparinised saline (0.9% NaCl). The femoral artery was used for recording of blood pressure, while the vein was used for infusions. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was obtained from the relation: MAP = diastolic pressure + 1/3 pulse pressure. Heart rate (HR) was computed from the arterial pressure trace, while cardiovascular reflex function was tested by bilateral carotid occlusion (BCO). The results from this study show that C. citratus and O. gratissimum had little or no effect on blood pressure except at the very high doses (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively; p<0.05), with O. gratissimum showing the greater effect. There was a slight fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 200mg/kg (86±6.17mmHg cf 72.9±6.77mmHg, p<0.05). Cymbopogon citratus had no effect on heart rate while O. gratissimum reduced heart rate in a dose dependent manner (p<0.01). Carotid occlusion tests showed that C. citratus had no appreciable effect on reflex cardiovascular response while Ocimum gratissimum altered the baroreflex response. These results suggest that O. gratissimum may alter cardiovascular function.