Anti-Hypertensive Potentials of Peperomia Pellucida in Anaesthetized Normotensive Rats

Abstract

Peperomia pellucida (L.) HBK of the Family Piperaceae is used locally in Nigeria as an anti - hypertensive drug but its efficacy has not been established scientifically. This work is to demonstrate the anti-hypertensive effects of Peperomia pellucida extract on arterial blood pressure in male, normotensive rats. Normotensive rats were anaesthetized with pentobarbitone intraperitoneally and this was followed by intravenous administration of the extract. Intravenous administration of the extract produced marked fall in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) and Heart Rate (HR). The hypotension lasted about 10 minutes. Pressor response to adrenaline was reduced (48.7%) by the extract but that of acetylcholine was not affected. This work has been able to justify the claim of the anti - hypertensive activity of P. pellucida.

Keywords: Peperomia pellucida, Hypertension, Phytomedicine, Normotensive rats, Pentobabitone