Preventive Potential of the Aqueous Extract of the Mixture of Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) and Cymbopogon citratus (Poaceae) Aerial Parts on Hypertension Induced by a Chronic Salt and Alcohol Consumption on the Rats

Abstract

High blood pressure (HBP) is currently one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Nowadays, populations make extensive use of alternative medicine for their health problems. Bidens pilosa (B. pilosa) and Cymbopogon citratus (C. citratus) are used individually in the traditional treatment of cardiovascular disorders. This study assessed the effects of the mixture of these two plants aqueous extract on HBP in rats. Male rats (42) were divided into 7 groups of 6 rats each. Normotensive rats received only distilled water and formed group 1. The other animals received ethanol + salt preceded by distilled water (10 mL/kg; group 2) and spironolactone (10 mg/kg; group 3); the aqueous extracts of the mixture (100 and 200 mg/kg; groups 4 and 5) isolated plants B. pilosa (200 mg/kg; group 6) and C. citratus (200 mg/kg; group 7). Animals were treated for 7 weeks during which water consumption and urine volume were assessed; then, hemodynamic parameters were recorded, and rats were sacrificed. Serum and some organs (liver, kidney, heart, and aorta) were used to evaluate biochemical parameters. Ingestion of ethanol + salt leads to a significant increase in urinary volume and water intake that were significantly prevented by the extracts from the mixture and isolated plants. Ethanol + salt solution significantly increased the blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-chol), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-chol), atherogenic indices, liver and kidney function parameters, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. However, the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-chol), albumin, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly reduced. The extracts of the mixture and isolated plants significantly prevented all these variations with a more pronounced action for the lowest dose of the mixture on the lipid profile, oxidative stress, and kidney function. These observations confirm the beneficial effects of B. pilosa and C. citratus to manage hypertension.

Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Studies on the Aqueous Extract of the Plant Mixture (Bidens pilosa and Cymbopogon citratus Aerial Parts) in Rat Model

“…It is true that Hanisa et al [31] found no signifcant changes in serum markers of lipid profle in the subchronic toxicity of C. citratus. Nonetheless, the observations in the present study are in agreement with our previous study showing that the extract of the mixture improves the lipid profle of hypertensive rats [17]. Transaminases (ALT and AST) are good markers of liver integrity and function [32].…”

“…Previous studies have confrmed the traditional uses of these plants [7][8][9][10][11] and assessed the toxicity of each plant [6,[12][13][14]. Several scientifc studies have already been carried out on plant mixtures [15][16][17][18]. Tese two plants in mixture are also used to treat cardiovascular disorders (hypertension) in the central region of Cameroon but no data on the toxicity of the mixture are available.…”

Exploring the Anti-Hypertensive Potential of Lemongrass—A Comprehensive Review

“…This mixture caused a significant decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, together with a significant decrease in heart rate. Finally, in ethanol and salt-induced hypertensive Wistar rats, the oral administration of 200 mg/kg water extract of lemongrass or of a mixture of lemongrass and hairy beggarticks ( Bidens pilosa L.) for 7 weeks significantly decreased systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure [ 103 ]. Even though these effects cannot be solely attributed to the bioactive compounds of lemongrass per se, they suggest that these herbal combinations show efficacy to decrease blood pressure, paving the way for the development of new combinations to be explored in the future [ 31 ].…”

“…Several studies have shown that lemongrass products exhibit a diuretic effect, which may also contribute to a decrease in blood pressure [ 29 , 103 ]. In one study, a single dose of a water extract of lemongrass was administered orally to Wistar rats and a weak diuretic activity was observed, even though no cardiovascular variables were measured and only a urinary index was calculated [ 29 ].…”

“…In one study, a single dose of a water extract of lemongrass was administered orally to Wistar rats and a weak diuretic activity was observed, even though no cardiovascular variables were measured and only a urinary index was calculated [ 29 ]. In ethanol and salt-induced hypertensive Wistar rats, the oral administration of a 200 mg/kg water extract of lemongrass or the mixture of lemongrass and hairy beggarticks extract (200 mg/kg) for 7 weeks showed slightly higher diuretic activity than furosemide (10 mg/kg), significantly increasing urinary volume after 24 h administration [ 103 ].…”