Bassey Etim¹, Celestine Ani^2,, Igwe Uzoma³, Jide Uzoigwe¹, Nworgu Chinemerem¹, Adeyemo Mercy¹, Nwaeme Ogochukwu¹, Nwachukwu Daniel¹

This work was designed to investigate the antihypertensive properties of aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum (TC) in salt-induced hypertensive rats. A total of thirty (30) male wistar rats were used for this study. The rats were randomly divided into six groups (A-F) of five rats each. Hypertension was induced in the rats except group A which served as the normotensive control group. The rats in groups (B-F) were placed on 8% NaCl in the diet/drinking water for 21 days and then treated with 70 mg/kg, 140 mg/kg, 210 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum (AETC) and lisinopril 5 mg/kg respectively for additional 21 days. Acute toxicity studies using LD₅₀ assays showed AETC to be virtually non-toxic (LD₅₀ >700mg/kg body weight). Phytochemical analysis of crude extract indicates the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and Phenols. Salt loading significantly increased the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP),mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate. Treatment showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in SBP, DBP, MAP, heart rate, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein and increased high density lipoprotein and body weight as compared with the salt -loaded untreated group. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in SBP, DBP, MAP, heart rate and body weights of salt - loaded groups treated with AETC and the salt loaded group treated with lisinopril. These results indicate that AETC (African walnut) possesses antihypertensive effect in hypertensive rats.

hypertension, African walnut, lipid profile, blood pressure