Phytother Res. 2002 Mar; 16 Suppl 1(): S6-9.

Vasodilating properties of extracts from the leaves of Musanga cecropioides (R. Brown).

Dongmo AB, Kamanyi A, Franck U, Wagner H.

Faculty of Science, University of Douala, PO Box 24157 Douala, Cameroon.

The mechanisms of action involved in the hypotensive properties of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Musanga cecropioides were investigated. The effect of the aqueous leaf extract of M. cecropioides, found to contain mostly saponins, flavonoids and procyanidins, was investigated on vascular smooth muscle and also in an in vivo direct invasive blood pressure study in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. The hypotensive or antihypertensive properties of the extracts appear to be due partly to a direct or indirect vasodilator effect and also to some alpha(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic blocking effects. The extract also exhibited significant endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxation, accounted for by the release of nitric oxide (NO), and induced significant angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory effects thereby supporting its vasodilator mechanism of action.Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.