Antihypertensive Activity of Residue From "Gebto Arekei", Locally Distilled Medicinal Spirit From a Brew Containing Lupinus albus Seeds in Renovascular Hypertensive Guinea- Pigs

Abstract

BACKGROUND: "Gebto Arekei", the traditional medicinal spirit prepared from a fermented brew containing Lupinus albus seeds is assumed to represent one of the forms of use of this plant in the traditional treatment of hypertension. The present work was undertaken to see the effect of " Gebto Arekei on blood pressure of renovascular hypertensive guinea pigs and evaluate its traditional medicinal use.

METHODS: The study was conducted between Oct 2000 and January 20001 in Addis Ababa. In this experiment, guinea-pigs were used. Hypertension was induced by using surgical procedures involving clamping of the left renal artery. Blood pressure was recorded invasively by direct cannulation method using surgical procedures involving the right common carotid artery. Thereafter, the effect of "Gebto. Arekei" on blood pressure was investigated.

RESULTS: "Gebto Arekei" residue, when infused at dose of 2 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight, caused a dose-dependent reduction of blood pressure in anaesthetized renovascular hypertensive guinea pigs (n=5). The fall in blood pressure had an acute and slowly recovering sustained phases. During the sustained phase, the residue at doses of 2 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight decreased the systolic pressure by 3.02%, 23.37% (p<0.005) and 43.11% (p<0.0005), respectively; whereas, diastolic pressure was decreased by 3.49%, 26.89% (p<0.005) and 49.75% (p<0.0005), respectively. Similarly, the mean blood pressure was reduced by 13.58%, 25.54% (p<0.005) and 47.02% (p<0.0005), respectively. The calculated ED _so for the mean blood pressure was 19.69 mg/kg body weight. The duration of action for each of the dose infused was 3.410.50 min, 12±1.70 min and 24.5±1.66 min, respectively.