Effect of Aqueous Extract of the Leaves of Sansevieria liberica Gerome and Labroy on Blood Pressure Indices and Pulse Rates of Sub-chronic Salt-loaded Rats

The effects of aqueous leaf extract of Sansevieria liberica on the blood pressure parameters and pulse rates of subchronic salt-loaded rats were investigated. The control group received a diet consisting 100% of the commercial feed, while the four test groups received an 8% salt-loaded diet all through, except for the reference treatment group that had its salt-loading discontinued after six weeks. The extract was orally administered daily at 200 and 250mg/ kg body weight; while the test control, reference and control groups received appropriate volumes of water by the same route. The extract immediately, dose dependently lowered the systolic pressure of the rats; although, the effect become only significant at 3 hr (for both doses) and 192 hr (for the 200 mg/kg dose). The 200 mg/kg dose produced alternating effects on the diastolic, pulse and mean arterial pressures; while the 250 mg/kg dose produced an initial reduction in diastolic and mean arterial pressures (maintained until the 192^nd hr before increasing) and a consistent reduction in pulse pressure. The pulse rate of the test groups were relatively more stable and lower on the average, compared to the test control. This result indicates that the extract may probably manage hypertension by alteration of the systolic and pulse pressures; and in addition, confirms the use of the plant in the management of hypertension in traditional medicine practice.