title: Antihypertensive activities of the aqueous extract of Kalanchoe pinnata (Crassulaceae) in high salt-loaded rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaves of Kalanchoe pinnata (Crassulaceae) are used in Cameroon folk medicine to manage many diseases such as cardiovascular dysfunctions. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the activities of aqueous leaf extract of Kalanchoe pinnata on the blood pressure of normotensive rat (NTR) and salt hypertensive rats (SHR), as well as its antioxidant properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypertension was induced in rats by oral administration of 18% NaCl for 4 weeks. For the preventive study, three groups of rats received 18% NaCl solution and the plant extract at 25 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day by gavage. Two positive control groups received 18% NaCl solution and either spironolactone (0.71 mg/kg/day) or eupressyl (0.86 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 4 weeks. At the end of this experimental period, systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured by the invasive method. Some oxidative stress biomarkers (reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric monoxide (NO) were evaluated in heart, aorta, liver and kidney. NO level was indirectly evaluated by measuring nitrite concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kalanchoe pinnata extract prevented significantly the increase of systolic and diastolic arterial pressures in high salt-loaded rats (SHR). In SHR, concomitant administration of Kalanchoe pinnata at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day significantly prevented the increase in blood pressure by 32%, 24% and 47% (for SAP); 35%, 33% and 56% (for DAP), respectively. No significant change was recorded in heart rate of those rats. The plant extract improved antioxidant status in various organs, but more potently in aorta. Thus, antioxidant and modulatory effects of Kalanchoe pinnata at the vasculature might be of preponderant contribution to its overall antihypertensive activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The work demonstrated that the concomitant administration of high-salt and the aqueous extract of Kalanchoe pinnata elicits prevention of salt-induced hypertension in rat. This antihypertensive activity is associated with an improvement of antioxidant status. Overall, results justify and support the use of Kalanchoe pinnata as antihypertensive medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: boresyl@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Orelien Sylvain Mtopi
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Bopda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ENS, University of Yaounde, P.O. Box 3805 Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: longofri@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: Thierrybel2001@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Thierry Ndzana
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Bella
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ENS, University of Yaounde, P.O. Box 3805 Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: edzahprotais@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Protais Marcellin Ohandja
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Edzah
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 836, LabEx Ion Channels, Science and Therapeutics, Grenoble Institut de Neurosciences, Université Joseph Fourier, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, Site santé de la Tronche, P.O. Box 170, 38042 Cedex 9, Grenoble, France. Electronic address: taiwe_sotoing@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Germain Sotoing
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Taïwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: danielleclaudeb@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Danielle Claude
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bilanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ENS, University of Yaounde, P.O. Box 3805 Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: Esther_ngotom@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Esther Ngo Lemba
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Tom
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: pikam55@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: dimo59@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Theophile
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029627:Crassulaceae; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031962:Kalanchoe; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014867:Water
keywords: Antihypertensive; Antioxidant; Eupressyl (PubChem CID: 5639); Heparin (PubChem CID: 25244225); Kalanchoe pinnata; N-(1-Naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (CID: 15106); Orthophosphoric acid (CID: 1004); Salt hypertensive rat; Sodium chloride (PubChem CID: 5234); Spironolactone (PubChem CID: 5833); Sulfanilamide (PubChem CID: 5333); Urethane (PubChem CID: 5641)