HYPOTENSIVE EFFECT OF N-BUTANOL EXTRACT FROM STEM OF SALACIA CHINENSIS IN RATS

Dried stems of Salacia chinensis were chopped and boiled with filtered water.
The clear solution was collected and partition extracted with n-butanol.
The n-butanol fraction (S. chinensis extract) was evaporated and followed by lyophilization.
The S. chinensis extract was investigated for hypotensive activity in anesthetized female rats in estrus, and for vasodilator activities on isolated thoracic aortic rings in vitro.
Results showed that intravenous injection of S. chinensis extract (4-120 mg/kg) caused a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate of anesthetized rats in a dose-dependent manner.
These effects were not blocked by atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist or propranolol, a -adrenergic receptor antagonist.
For the in vitro preparation, the S. chinensis extract (0.01-0.3 mg/ml) caused vasodilatation of the thoracic aortic rings pre-constricted with phenylephrine in a dose-dependent manner.
These effects persisted in the presence of atropine, propranolol or both of atropine and propranolol.
However, when N^G-nitro-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, was added or removal of vascular endothelium, the vasodilator activity of the S. chinensis extract on the thoracic aortic ring disappeared.
These results suggest that the n-butanol extract from stems of Salacia chinensis possesses a hypotensive effect.
The mechanism involved may be an indirect effect by stimulated release of nitric oxide from vascular endothelial cells and causes vasodilatation.

III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Volume 4: Targeted Screening of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Economics and Law

C. Jansakul, N. Jusapalo, S. Mahattanadul

medicinal plants, hypotension, thoracic aorta, vasodilatation, nitric oxide

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.678.14