10. Hypotensive effect of aqueous extract of Clerodendrum inerme leaves on the arterial pressure of rabbits

Despite advances in modern medicine, hypertension remains a disease which is difficult to eradicate. Our search for a non expensive therapy, able to lower hypertension, made us to prepare an herbal medicine (C inerme) starting from the leaves of Clerodendrum inerme (Verbenaceae). Dried leaves of the plant were pulverized; with the powder, we prepared a maceration we filtrated to obtain the herbal extract (C inerme), at 100 mg/mL. Mac Ewen was necessary to dilute this starting solution. Rabbits were injected with 10 mL of ethyluretane, intraperitoneally. The saphenous vein was intubated with a catheter attached to a syringe allowing the injection of different doses of C inerme and Acetylcholine. The physiological records made on rabbits revealed that C inerme has no effect on the blood pressure, at low doses (≤ 10-4 mg/mL). For doses ranging from 10-3 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL, it developed a gradual and reversible hypotension; so we noticed a lowering of the normal pressure level and a decrease in the power of systoles. At 20 mg/mL, the hypotension remains steady. C inerme has no influence at doses ≤ 10-4 mg/mL on blood pressure. At higher doses (≥10-3 mg/mL), it lowers blood pressure. Hence, it can be concluded that Clerodendrum inerme leaves aqueous extract exerts a hypotensive effect.