Treatment with an extract of Terminalia superba Engler & Diels decreases blood pressure and improves endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2014, Vol.151 (1), p.372-379
• Main Authors: Tom, Esther Ngo Lemba, Girard-Thernier, Corine, Martin, Hélène, Dimo, Théophile, Alvergnas, Magalie, Nappey, Maude, Berthelot, Alain, Demougeot, Céline
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - administration & dosage; Acetylcholine - pharmacology; Animal biology; Animals; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cyclic N-Oxides - administration & dosage; Cyclic N-Oxides - pharmacology; Diet; Drug interaction; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endothelial function; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Hypertension - drug therapy; Life Sciences; Male; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology; Oxidative stress; Plant Bark - chemistry; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Stems - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; Spin Labels; Spontaneously hypertensive rats; Terminalia - chemistry; Terminalia superba
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.10.057

The stem bark of Terminalia superba (TS) is widely used as a decoction by Cameroonian folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a chronic treatment with a TS extract on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with respect to efficacy, biochemical mechanisms and safety. Eleven-week-old SHR and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were daily treated by gavage with a methylene chloride extract of stem bark of Terminalia superba (TMSE, 150mg/kg) or with the vehicle for 5 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly using the tail-cuff method. At the end of the treatment period, vascular function was assessed on isolated thoracic rings, urinary 8-iso-PGF2α levels were measured and cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP 3A) activity was evaluated in liver microsomes. TMSE reduced SBP (P