Evaluation of antihypertensive activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Sechium edule (Jacq.) SW. (CUCURBITACEAE) fruit in rat

Different parts of Sechium edule (Jacq.) SW. have been used traditionally for the treatment of hypertension in Madagascar. This study investigated the antihypertensive effect of its fruit in vivo and in vitro. High sodium diet-induced hypertension models were used. Treatment was performed by oral administration of hydro alcoholic extract at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg daily. Blood pressure was measured by non-invasive blood pressure measurement technique. After 21 days of high sodium diet, blood pressure rose from 127 ± 4.2 / 78 ± 2.3 mmHg to 212 ± 2.0 / 148 ± 1.03 mmHg (p<0.05). It returns to its normal value on the 6^th, 12^th and 15^th day of treatment with the extract at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively. The extract increases diuresis from 3.7 ± 0.4 ml in the control group to 5.2 ± 0.2, 7.3 ± 2.3 and 8.4 ± 2.4 ml in the groups treated with the extract at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively (p<0.05). It also relaxes isolated aorta pre-contracted with norepinephrine at concentration of 10-⁴ M with EC₅₀ of 1.05 mg/ml.