PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC CRUDE EXTRACTS OF HUNTERIA UMBELLATA K. (SCHUM) SEEDS AND ITS ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS ON SALT INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN WISTAR RATS

Authors: Udinyiwe C.O, Okolafor F.I, Uwansojie S, *Ekhaise F.O

DOI Info: N/A

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the preliminary phytochemical properties of aqueous and ethanolic crude extracts of Hunteria umbellata seeds and its physiological effects on salt induced hypertension in experimental animals The phytochemical studies were carried out according to the methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemist (A.O.A.C). Twenty - five (25) female adult Wistar rats were administered with 8 % of NaCl (salt) for 2 weeks and shared into five groups of five animals in each group. The results of the quantitative phytochemical components of aqueous and ethanolic extracts revealed the presence of oxalate, phytate, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, phenols, cyanogenic glycoside and anthraquinones. The administration of the standard drug (propranolol) caused a reduction in high systolic blood pressure of the hypertensive experimental animals from 162.00 mmHg to 134.00 mmHg, while the diastolic pressure was observed to fall from 103.00 mmHg to 73.67 mmHg. The administration of aqueous extract of H. umbellata seeds caused a reduction of the systolic blood pressure of the hypertensive experimental animals from 159.20 mmHg to 136.25 mmHg, while the diastolic blood pressure was observed to fall from 103.80 mmHg to 80.25 mmHg. The administration of ethanolic extract of H. umbellata seeds caused a reduction in systolic blood of the hypertensive experimental animals from 160.20 mmHg to 133.00 mmHg, while the diastolic pressure was recorded to drop from 102.20 mmHg to 76.75 mmHg. The results presented here revealed the effect of ethanolic crude extract of H. umbellata on the management of blood pressure of the animals compared to the control (p<0.05). The histological results of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of H. umbellata seeds revealed appreciable recovery of the degenerating tissues.

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