Hypotensive Potential of Desmodium Adscendens on Cardiovascular Functions

Background: Desmodium adscendens is one of the medicinal herbs used in the management of some medical conditions in recent times. The current study investigates the effects of aqueous leave extract of Desmodium adscendens on the serum levels of Sodium, Chloride, Potassium, and Bicarbonate ions, and the implication on cardiovascular function in healthy wistar rats.

Method: Twenty-four (24) wistar rats grouped into four (n=6) were used for the research. Group 1 served as control, while Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated orally with low, median and high doses of the extract of D adscendens for four weeks, after which blood was collected separately from each group and the serum level of the electrolyte determined by appropriate methods and comparison made with the control group and among the groups.

Results: There was significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum concentration of Sodium, Chloride and Bicarbonate ions, and significant increase in Potassium ion concentration.

Conclusions: The significant decrease in serum concentration of Na+, Cl-, HCO3- and significant decrease indicate that the extract has the potential to lower blood pressure, and that may be attributed to the active phytochemical constituents present in the leave. Therefore D. adscendens leaf has beneficial hypotensive potential on cardiovascular functions.

Keywords: Serum electrolytes; Hypotensive potentials; Cardiovascular function; Desmodium adscendens