Evaluation of anti-hypertensive and vasorelaxant activity of ethanolic extract of Passiflora edulis (Passifloraceae) Leaves in rat

Despite the great development in the field of medicine, medicinal plants are still used in Madagascar for primary health care and claimed to be efficient. This work aimed to evaluate Passiflora edulis leaves ethanolic extract effect on sodium enriched diet induced hypertension in rat. After 21 days of hyper sodium diet the blood pressure increases from 118.56 ± 2.18 / 70.31 ± 1 mmHg (PAS/PAD) to 210.50 ± 2.96/ 145.88 ± 1.20 mmHg. Administered orally at doses 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, once a day, the extract decreases the blood pressure to its normal value within 8, 6 and 4 days, versus 10 days in control group. It increases 24 h urinary volume from 3.3 ± 0.20 ml in the control animals, to 4.56 ± 0.34, 5.7 ± 0.10 and 7.96 ± 0.37 ml (p<0.05). It also relaxes the isolated aorta contracted with noradrenaline at 10-3M, with EC50 equal to 1.84 ± 0.03 mg/ml. These results show the anti-hypertensive effect of Passiflora edulis ethanolic extract, which is probably associated with its diuretic and vasorelaxation activities.