title: Antihypertensive potential of the aqueous extract which combine leaf of Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae), stems and leaf of Cymbopogon citratus (D.C) Stapf. (Poaceae), fruits of Citrus medical L. (Rutaceae) as well as honey in ethanol and sucrose experimental model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of the aqueous extract obtained from the mixture of fresh leaf of Persea americana, stems and fresh leaf of Cymbopogon citratus, fruits of Citrus medica and honey on ethanol and sucrose induced hypertension in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into eight groups of 6 rats each and daily treated for 5 weeks. The control group received distilled water (1 mL/kg) while rats of groups 2, 3 and 4 received ethanol 40 degrees (3 g/kg/day), 10% sucrose as drinking water and the two substances respectively. The remaining groups received in addition to sucrose and ethanol, the aqueous extract (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) or nifedipine (10 mg/kg) respectively. Many parameters including hemodynamic, biochemical and histopathological were assessed at the end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concomitant consumption of ethanol and sucrose significantly (p < 0.001) increased the blood pressure and the heart rate compared to distilled water treated-rats. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, atherogenic index, glucose, proteins, AST, ALT, creatinin, potassium, sodium and albumin increased while the HDL-cholesterol decreased under ethanol and sucrose feeding. Chronic ethanol and sucrose intake significantly decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitrites whereas elevated the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Histological analysis revealed among other vascular congestion, inflammation, tubular clarification and thickening of the vessel wall in rats treated with alcohol and sucrose. Administration of the aqueous extract or nifedipine prevented the hemodynamic, biochemical, oxidative and histological impairments induced chronic ethanol and sucrose consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current results suggest that the aqueous extract used in this study possess antihypertensive activity against ethanol and sucrose induced hypertension in rats by the improvement of biochemical and oxidative status, and by protecting liver, kidney and vascular endothelium against damages induced by chronic consumption of ethanol and sucrose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P,O, Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. dzeufiet@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Paul Désiré Djomeni
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dzeufiet
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mogueo
authors.forename: Danielle Claude
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bilanda
authors.forename: Bibi-Farouck Oumarou
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Aboubakar
authors.forename: Léonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tédong
authors.forename: Théophile
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002957:Citrus; D031743:Cymbopogon; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol; D006722:Honey; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D027421:Persea; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018514:Plant Structures; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013395:Sucrose
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013395:Sucrose