CARDIO-VASCULAR ACTIVITY OF GYNURA PROCUMBENS MERR . LEAF EXTRACTS

Gynura procumbens has been known to be used as traditional medicine for treatment of kidney disease, rashes, fever and for hypertension. We report here the cardiovascular effects of the different ethanol (95%, 75%, 50%, 25% v/v) and water extracts using in vitro studies. Gynura procumbens leaves extract was prepared by maceration process. The cardiac effects (chronotropic and ionotropic) of each extract were examined on isolated right and left atrium which was prestimulated with 5x10 M Isoprenaline. Vasorelaxant effect was examined on intact isolated endothelium rat aorta rings precontracted with 10 M Phenylephrine. Water extract was found to be most potent to exhibit dose dependent vasorelaxation and negative chronotropic and ionotropic effects. Chemical analysis of GPWE showed the presence of significant amounts of polyphenolic and flavonoid constituents. The data suggests GPWE contains cardiovascular active substances which are responsible for significant dose-dependent cardiovascular effects. Such cardiovascular effects can possibly be attributed to the high polyphenolic content of this plant.