Abstract

THE ANTI-HYPERTNSIVE EFFECTS OF MUSTARD SEED EXTRACTS

Aloh Godwin Sunday, Obeagu Emmanue Ifeanyi*, Eze Obioma Benedict L, Amadi Martha-Xtiana S

ABSTRACT

Water,chloroform and methanol extracts of mustard seed(Brassica spp) were evaluated for their effects in restoring high electrolyte and cholesterol levels due to high blood pressure to normal after induction with atropine.Serum electrolytes and cholesterol levels were measured spectrophotometrically.After one hour of hypertension induction,the level of Na+,K+,Ca2+, and cholesterol rose in all the animals that received the injection.The Na+ levels in groupii-v increased from 133.1-151.7mmol/l,132.8-149.1mmol/l,132.3-149.1mmol/l and 132.8- 148.8mmol/l respectively;the K+ level increasedfrom 2.9-3.8mmol/l, 2.85-3.9mmol/l, 2.87-3.8mmol/l, and 3.03-3.7mmol/l respectively; the Ca2+ levels increased from 13.7-15.8mg/dl,13.4- 15.9mg/dl, 13.8- 16.0mg/dl, and 13.6-15.9mg/dl respectively; and cholesterol levels increased from 33.3-45.2mg/dl,34.8-47.5mg/dl,32.9-47.6mg/dl,and 33.9-45.2mg/dl respectively.On the first day of administration of extract,a slight decrease in Na+,K+,and cholesterol; and increase in Ca2+ were observed in groups iii-v that received water,chloroform and methanol extracts respectively,while those of group ii(negative control) kept on rising.On the subsequent days of treatment,the levels of all the electrolytes and cholesterol kept on decreasing till the last day of treatment where their levels reduced to near normal values relative to their levels before induction of hypertension.Each of the extracts was found to be potent in restoring high electrolytes and cholesterol levels due to hypertension to normal.

Keywords: hypertension,serum electrolytes,cholesterol,mustard seed.