Comparative study between pharmacological screening of different fractions of Pereskia aculeata miller
and Alpinia zerumbet in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Pereskia aculeata miller, Alpina zerumbet, SHRs rats, blood pressure
Pereskia aculeata miller, known as “ora-pro-nobis”, is popularly used in traditional Brazilian medicine, however, its cardiovascular effects remain uncertain. And Alpina zerumbet, popularly known as “colônia” is already used in popular medicine as a treatment for hypertension, however there are no reports of its fractions on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the cardiovascular effects induced by fractions of Pereskia aculeata miller (FPPTPa, FHPa and FDCMPa) and Alpina zerumbet (FAEFAz and FHAz) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), as well as comparing their phytochemical composition. To this end, protocols for direct measurement of blood pressure and heart rate were carried out in non-anesthetized SHR rats. In conscious SHR rats, the P. aculeata and A. zerumbet fractions promoted hypotension and bradycardia in all fractions, but in particular the reduction of heart rate in the P. aculeata fractions, in non-anesthetized SHR rats. It is concluded, therefore, that the fractions promote hypotensive and bradycardic effects in SHR rats.