Purpose: To evaluate the phytochemical profile and antihypertensive effect of
Caralluma tuberculata
N.E.Br (AMECT).
Methods: The antihypertensive effect of the aqueous methanol extract of (AMECT) was evaluated in both
normotensive and hypertensive rats. In normotensive rats, various doses (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body
weight, p.o.) were administered at 0, 1, 3 and 6 hr intervals. Anti-hypertensive activity of the crude extract
was investigated in three experimental hypertensive models, viz, egg-fed diet, glucose-induced and
cadmium-induced hypertensive rats. Cardiovascular parameters, including systolic blood pressure (SBP),
diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured by tail
cuff method using non-invasive blood pressure apparatus (NIBP) attached. AMECT was also investigated
for its phytochemical profile.
Results: The results indicate that AMECT produced a dose-dependent, significant (p < 0.05) decrease in
SBP, DBP, MBP, and HR (p < 0.01) of normotensive rats, when compared to control groups, at all test
doses. The 500 mg/kg dose produced a highly significant effect (mm Hg, p < 0.001) in SBP (85.9 ± 7.2),
DBP (71.86 ± 12.1), MBP (75.1 ± 11.7) and HR (238.08 ± 8.3 beats/min), in comparison to 100 and 300
mg/kg doses; therefore, 500 mg/kg was selected for antihypertensive test in egg-fed, glucose-induced and
cadmium-treated hypertensive rats. Significant (p < 0.05) antihypertensive and negative chronotropic
effects were observed in hypertensive models compared to their respective normal controls.
Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, cardiac
glycosides and flavonoids.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that
Caralluma tuberculata possesses significant anti-hypentensive
activity in rats.
