Hypotensive effect of the methanolic extract of Mimusops elengi in normotensive rats.

The methanolic extract of Mimusops elengi caused hypotensive activity in anaesthetized rats. On intravenous administration (i.v.) at a dose range of 2-16 mg/kg, it produced about a 7-38% fall in mean arterial blood pressure, in a dose-dependent manner. The effect was independent of adrenergic, muscarinic and histaminergic receptors. The hypotension was also unchanged after autonomic ganglion or angiotensin-converting-enzyme blockade. Administration of calcium channel blockers, however, including nifedipine (0.9 mg/kg) and verapamil (3.9 mg/kg), caused corresponding reductions of 81 and 64% in extract-induced hypotension. These data imply M. elengi might possess calcium-blocking activity which would explain its hypotensive effect.