ABSTRACT
Parkia biglobosa is one of the main medicinal plants used in traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases in Africa. We investigated cardioprotective effects of stem bark hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE) of P. biglobosa in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI). Four groups of five Wistar rats of each were used. Group I, control group, received per os (p.o) saline solution (5ml kg-1 b.w.) as vehicle daily for 15 days and was injected subcutaneously with the vehicle (5ml kg-1 b.w.) at an interval of 24 hours, on day 14 and 15. Group II referred to as infarcted rats, received vehicle p.o and was injected subcutaneously with isoproterenol (125 mg kg-1 b.w.) as in group I. Groups III and IV were pre-treated p.o with HAE (90 and 60 mg kg-1 b.w. respectively) daily for 15 days and was injected subcutaneously Isoproterenol (125 mg kg-1 b.w.). ISO has induced MI, characterized by significant increased (p <0.001) of MDA, biochemical alterations, heart hypertrophy and histological changes in infarcted rats. HAE, prevented significantly (p <0.001) induction of all these anomalies in pre-treated rats. These results suggested cardioprotective effects of P.biglobosa against ISO induced MI.
ABSTRACT
Aims: Bleeding is the leading cause of early death and a post-traumatic major cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Although 80% of African people have used herbs to treat wounds, very little information is available about plants species with hemostatic properties. This study aims to contribute to a better knowledge of plants used for their hemostatic properties in southern Benin. Study Design: Ethnobotanical and survey study. Place and Duration of Study: Southern Benin in West Africa between January and June 2011. Methodology: Ethnopharmacological surveys were conducted from January to June 2011, with 66 traditional healers in Southern Benin using the method by Semi Structured Interview (SSI). Results: We surveyed 55 species of medicinal plants belonging to 28 families. The most used species were: Musa sapientum L., Jatropha multifida L., Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel., Annona muricata L., Macrosphyra longistyla DC. And Newbouldia leavis P. Beauv. The use of these plants is more common in postpartum hemorrhages (45.8%), scarification (22%), circumcision (13%) and snake bites (7%). Preparations administered orally (56.8%) or locally (43.2%) are most often in the form of various extraction products (latex sap or juice (31.9%), aqueous decoction (22.7%), aqueous maceration (17.6%) or powder (13.5%). The plant parts most frequently used are: leaves (38.2%), bark (23.6%), roots (12.7%) and latex (11.9%). Conclusion: The extracts of these plants could therefore be an attractive option given the urgency posed by hemorrhages.