ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AND RENOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF WHOLE PLANT LIPPIA NODIFLORA LINN. ON UNINEPHROCTIMIZED DOCA-SALT HYPERTENSIVE RATS.

Abstract

Lippia nodiflora Linn a  member of Verbenaceae family, is used in traditional and Unani system of medicine because of its antispasmodic, hair afflictions, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, antibacterial, anti Helicobacter pylori activity, hypotensive activity, antinociceptive and antifungal. The purpose of the study is to check the efficacy of different fractions of whole plant Lippia nodiflora on uninephrectomized DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Dried and powdered whole plant was extracted with chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water; and administered in doses of 500 mg/Kg p.o.  Preliminary phytochemical analysis of plant reveals presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenes, glycosides and sterols. Data was analysed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. Among all these extracts, methanolic extract was found to be effective as it reduced the systolic blood pressure significantly. We have also checked the creatinine level as a renal marker; histopathology of kidney also confirmed the biochemical findings. This study supports the antihypertensive role and renoprotective effect of methanolic fractions.