Effects of the Ethanolic Extract of Parinari curatellifolia on Cat Blood Pressure and Rabbit jejunum Preparations

Abstract

Parinari curatellifolia has been used with great success in the treatment of snake bites by herbal medicine practitioners in Benue State, Nigeria. The effect of the ethanolic extract of Parinari curatellifolia was investigated on the cat blood pressure and rabbit jejunum to determine its possible relevance in the alleviation of the cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects of snake envenomation. The statham guage cannulation method was used to investigate the effects of the extract on the cat blood pressure while the isolated tissue response method was used to test the effects of the extract on the spontaneous movement of the rabbit jejunum. At a concentration of 1 mg/ml, the extract produced a significant decrease of 9.0cm amplitude in cat blood pressure which is comparable to 8.7cm decrease produced by Acetylcholine (10 μg/ml). On the rabbit jejunum, the extract exhibited an antagonistic effect on the action of the Cobra venom. The extract was found to be potentially useful in the treatment of the species of snakes that causes increase blood pressure, tachycardia and neurotoxicity in their victims.