Strychnos spinosa and high blood pressure

The aim of the present study is to valorize the use in traditional medicine of Strychnos spinosa (Loganiaceae) as an antihypertensive plant. On isolated rat aorta pre-contacted with phenilephrine the crude extract of the plant causes endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation with a relaxation EC50 value equal to 0.900 ± 0.054 mg/ml. L-NAME inhibits the vasorelaxation effect induced by the extract of Strychnos spinosa with an increase in EC50 value of 2.254± 0.140mg/ml, this shows that the vasorelaxation effect involves a mechanism that involves NO. The inhibition of the effect by propranolol, with an EC50 of 2.762±0.138mg/ml demonstrates that the vasorelaxant effect involves the participation of ¿2 adrenergic receptors.