Background: The rise in the occurrence of hypertension, a non-communicable disease and a major factor for chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, which most times lead to sudden death is worrisome. Resistant hypertension is more common and may have no symptoms at all for months or years, but then can cause heart attack, stroke, and vision and kidney damage. Prevention and quick management of hypertension is therefore essential in reducing the risk of these debilitating ailments. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Clerodendrum chinensis (AeC and EeC) are used by local communities of West Africa as medicine for rapid anti-hypertensive actions. We aim to discover the scientific basis for the use of the herb as medicine.

Methods: This work investigates the anti-hypertensive effects of AeC and EeC in L-Arginine Methyl Ester Hydrochloride (L-NAME)- induced hypertensive rats Acetylcholine, L-Arginine and Sodium Nitroprusside were used as standards. All results were expressed as means ± standard error of mean. Differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

Results: Intravenous administration of the extracts caused a significant decrease in the Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) in a dose-dependent manner. AeC at 100 mg/kg caused a significant decline in blood pressure in a dose-related manner. Likewise, at 100 mg/kg, EeC reduced MABP steadily from 103.9 ± 2.55 to 34.1 ± 0.95mmHg. The two extracts; possess significant anti-hypertensive properties.

Conclusions: Both extracts show significant anti-hypertensive effects and at high doses could lead to hypotension and so should be used with care. Further research is necessary to determine safe dosage forms.

Clerodendrum chinensis, Herbal medicine, L-NAME-hypertensive rat and Resistant hypertension