Evaluation of the Effects of An Aqueous Extract of <i>Senna alata</i><i> </i>(L.) Roxb. (Fabaceae) on Cardiac Arrhythmia in Rabbits

Heart rhythm problems also known as cardiac arrhythmias are one of the main causes of morbidity. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of Senna alata (Fabaceae) on cardiac arrhythmia in rabbits. To conduct this study, An electrocardiograph (Cam, Chim, China) is used to measure the electrical activity of the heart. The results of the extract on the normal rabbit ECG show that this substance, at low doses (5.10-3 to 5.10-2 mg/kg BW) causes an increase in the amplitude of the P wave and the QRS complex and causes tachycardia. On the other hand, bradycardia is obtained for higher doses (greater than 5.10-1 mg/kg BW, and up to 15 mg/kg BW), with also an increase in the amplitude of the P wave and the QRS complex. Thus, at low doses, the extract has adrenergic-type properties and, at high doses, digitalis-type properties. On rabbit ECG, this extract, at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW, corrects cardiac rhythm disturbances, which present in the form of tachycardia and arrhythmia induced by prior administration of Isoprenaline (0.1 mg/kg BW). These effects on cardiac arrhythmia show that this extract has antiarrhythmic properties. This justifies the use in traditional medicine of Senna alata (Fabaceae) in the treatment of heart diseases.