The reversal effects of <i>Irvingia gabonensis</i> seed extract on ethanol-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill is a tropical African tree widely used for the treatment of deranged body weight, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol in China, India, and Africa. Despite its medicinal uses, there is no documented report on its role and mechanism of action in the management of hypertension. In this study, we investigated the reversal effects of n-hexane extract (oil) of Irvingia gabonensis seed on ethanol-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups. Group A (control) received normal saline (10 mL/kg) orally, while groups B to E received 5% ethanol (10 mL/kg) alone daily for 14 consecutive days to induce hypertension. Thereafter, oral administration of Irvingia gabonensis at 250 mg/kg/day, 500 mg/kg/day, and enalapril at 0.1 mg/kg was introduced from day 15 to 35 in groups C to E, respectively. The results showed that ethanol caused a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), heart rate (HR), and a reduction in mean weight gain in normotensive rats. However, treatment with n-hexane extract (oil) of the seed of Irvingia gabonensis or enalapril showed a significant (P=0.001) reversal in SBP, DBP, MABP, HR, and body weight gain compared to the ethanol-induced hypertensive rats. The study showed that Irvingia gabonensis seed oil administered at 250 mg/kg has a potency similar to enalapril in reducing blood pressure and heart rate and reversing weight loss in ethanol-induced hypertension. Also, it reversed the deleterious effects of ethanol on the architecture of the cardiac and renal tissues. The reversal effect of Irvingia gabonensis oil on hypertension was attributed to its antihypertensive and cytoprotective effects, resulting from the potent oil fingerprint of the extract.