title: Effect on blood pressure of a dietary supplement containing traditional medicinal plants of Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A medicinal composition containing salt (sodium chloride) is given as a traditional dietary supplement to hypertensive patients (TDSHP) in Côte d'Ivoire. It consists of whole plant of Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) and fresh leaves of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the scientific basis for the use of this traditional recipe rich in sodium chloride in hypertension settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a total aqueous extract of this traditional dietary supplement containing medicinal plants (Bidens pilosa, Moringa oleifera) and salt (sodium chloride). Experiment was carried out to evaluate its effect on arterial blood pressure of rabbits. The experimental device used for recording blood pressure in rabbits is based on the principle of Ludwig mercury manometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TDSHP between 5×10(-8) and 5×10(-2) mg/kg caused a dose-dependent hypotension. TDSHP elicited drops in blood pressure ranging between 7.14±4 and 100±7.5%, compared to normal blood pressure of rabbits. Fifty percent effective dose of TDSHP was 3.95×10(-4) mg/kg. Similarly as the hypotension induced by acetylcholine, the one caused by TDSHP at dose of 3.95×10(-4) mg/kg in rabbit was progressively inhibited by atropine, dosed between 5×10(-4) to 5×10(-2) mg/kg. The percentage drop of recorded blood pressure ranged from 50.3±1.87 to 3.71±1.09% compared to the normal value of blood pressure. In the presence of atropine, TDSHP effect was partially inhibited. The same increasing doses of TDSHP reduced significantly the increase of blood pressure induced by adrenaline dosed at 4.76×10(-4) mg/kg from 89.3±2.19 to 1.19±0.59%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consumption of this traditional dietary supplement is justified in hypertensive patients according to its composition and its ability to reduce blood pressure has been demonstrated experimentally. TDSHP should not be considered as an antihypertensive drug, it remains to us a salt substitute to be taken with moderation with strict adherence to the traditional dose.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics-Training and Research Unity of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, University of Abidjan, Cocody 22, BP 1397, Abidjan 22, Cote d'Ivoire. abrogouadp@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Danho Pascal
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Abrogoua
authors.forename: Djédjé Sébastien
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dano
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manda
authors.forename: Aholia Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Adepo
authors.forename: Brou Jérôme
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kablan
authors.forename: Nomane Bernard
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Goze
authors.forename: Kroa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ehoulé
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D031176:Bidens; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D029588:Moringa oleifera; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D001285:Atropine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004837:Epinephrine