Vitex cienkowskii stem-bark is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. In previous studies, the methanol/methylene chloride stem-bark extract of Vitex cienkowskii (MMVC) showed a preventive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertension and improved blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The present study investigated the curative effects in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (LNHR). Hypertension was induced in rats by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. The animals were divided into 2 groups: one group of 5 rats receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg) and another 20 rats receiving L-NAME. At the end of 4 weeks of administration of L-NAME, the animals were divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each: one group of hypertensive rats receiving distilled water, another one receiving captopril (25 mg/kg), and two groups of hypertensive rats receiving MMVC at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Body weight, food, and water intake were measured weekly. At the end of the treatment, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded by invasive method. Whole heart, left ventricle, kidneys, and liver were weighed. The effects of plant extract on lipid profile and oxidative stress markers, as well as markers of hepatic and renal functions were assessed spectrophotometrically according to well described protocols. Results show that L-NAME significantly increases the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), atherogenic index, lipid profile, and creatinine and transaminase activities of normotensive rats. MMVC significantly reduced the blood pressure in LNHR. Body weight, food and water intake, left ventricular hypertrophy, antioxidant level, renal and hepatic markers, and lipid profile were improved by the treatment with MMVC. The curative effect of MMVC on L-NAME-induced hypertension is probably related to its antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant properties. These results confirmed the use of Vitex cienkowskii for the treatment of hypertension in traditional medicine.

中文翻译：

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荆条（马鞭草科）茎皮提取物对 L-NAME 诱导的高血压大鼠的抗高血压作用

荆条茎皮在喀麦隆传统医学中用于治疗包括高血压在内的心血管疾病。在之前的研究中，牡荆的甲醇/二氯甲烷茎皮提取物(MMVC) 显示出对 L-NAME 诱导的高血压的预防活性，并改善自发性高血压大鼠的血压。本研究探讨了 L-NAME 诱导的高血压大鼠 (LNHR) 的疗效。通过口服 L-NAME（40 mg/kg/天）28 天诱导大鼠高血压。将动物分为2组：一组5只大鼠接受蒸馏水(10ml/kg)，另外20只大鼠接受L-NAME。L-NAME给药4周结束时，将动物分为4组，每组5只大鼠：一组高血压大鼠接受蒸馏水，另一组接受卡托普利（25 mg/kg），两组高血压大鼠接受L-NAME治疗。大鼠分别接受 200 和 400 mg/kg 剂量的 MMVC。每周测量体重、食物和水的摄入量。治疗结束时，采用有创法记录血压和心率。对整个心脏、左心室、肾脏和肝脏进行称重。根据详细描述的方案，通过分光光度法评估植物提取物对脂质谱和氧化应激标记物以及肝肾功能标记物的影响。结果表明，L-NAME 显着增加血压正常大鼠的平均动脉血压 (MABP)、动脉粥样硬化指数、血脂、肌酐和转氨酶活性。MMVC 显着降低 LNHR 的血压。MMVC 治疗改善了体重、食物和水摄入量、左心室肥厚、抗氧化剂水平、肾脏和肝脏标志物以及血脂状况。MMVC 对 L-NAME 诱导的高血压的疗效可能与其抗高血压、降血脂和抗氧化特性有关。这些结果证实了荆条在传统医学中用于治疗高血压的用途。