ABSTRACT

 Curcuma longa has long been used for the management of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. This study evaluated the ameliorating effects of C. longa rhizome extract in sodium chloride-induce hypertensive rats. The extract was prepared from the rhizome and subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses. Acute and sub acute toxic effects of the extract were also evaluate using forty one (41) male wister rats. Also thirty (30) male wister rats, assigned into five groups of six rats each were used for the sodium chloride-induced hypertensive study. Group one consisted of normal rats and served as the normal control. Groups two to five were made hypertensive by administration of 8% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution (15ML/kg body weight) over two weeks. Thereafter, treatments were assigned as follows: group 2 was untreated and served as disease control group (negative control), group 3 was treated with Lisinopril (Img/kg), and groups 4 and 5 received 500 and 1000 mg/kg of the extract respectively. Treatment lasted for 14 days before the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation for sample (blood and tissues) collection for various biochemical and histopathological tests. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of saponins, tannis, phenolics, favonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids, with alkaloids being the most abundant (41.20 ±0.53 mg/lOOg), followed by flavonoids (32.22±0.51 mg/lOOg) while terpenoids had the least amount (3.98±0.03 mg/lOOg). The acute toxicity value ofthe extract was found to be >5000mg/kg body weight, while results of sub-acute toxicity evaluation showed no deleterious effects on liver and kidney, functions. Significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities were established. Results of the antihypertensive study showed significant improvements in liver and kidney function parameters, evidence by the normalization of elevated liver enzyme activities and renal function parameters like urea and creatine, coupled with a marked decrease in pulse rate. Treatment with C. longa corrected these abnormalities. Elevated total cholesterol and triglyceride values in hypertensive rats were significantly reduced following treatment (P<0.05). Levels of myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase were also significantly lowered. The abnormalities observed in bleeding and clotting times were significantly corrected (P<0.05). Therefore, Curcuma longa rhizome may be of value of the management ofsalt-induced hypertension and its associated complications.