title: Vasodilating properties of extracts from the leaves of Musanga cecropioides (R. Brown).
abstract: The mechanisms of action involved in the hypotensive properties of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Musanga cecropioides were investigated. The effect of the aqueous leaf extract of M. cecropioides, found to contain mostly saponins, flavonoids and procyanidins, was investigated on vascular smooth muscle and also in an in vivo direct invasive blood pressure study in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. The hypotensive or antihypertensive properties of the extracts appear to be due partly to a direct or indirect vasodilator effect and also to some alpha(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic blocking effects. The extract also exhibited significant endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxation, accounted for by the release of nitric oxide (NO), and induced significant angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory effects thereby supporting its vasodilator mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Douala, PO Box 24157 Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Dongmo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamanyi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide