Antihypertensive Effects of the Vitex cienkowskii (Verbenaceae) Stem-Bark Extract on L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rats

Table 1

Effects of the methanol/methylene chloride extract of V. cienkowskii on relative weight of organs.

Organs (g/100 g of body weight)	Distilled water	L-NAME	L-NAME + CAPT	L-NAME + MMVC (200 mg/kg)	L-NAME + MMVC (400 mg/kg)
Kidneys	0.26 ± 0.01	0.29 ± 0.01	0.28 ± 0.01	0.24 ± 0.03	0.29 ± 0.05
Liver	2.49 ± 0.10	3.25 ± 0.16	2.85 ± 0.11	2.73 ± 0.23	2.76 ± 0.24
Whole heart	0.29 ± 0.01	0.34 ± 0.00	0.30 ± 0.01	0.30 ± 0.01	0.31 ± 0.02
Left ventricle	0.24 ± 0.01	0.29 ± 0.01	0.25 ± 0.01^$	0.26 ± 0.01^$	0.26 ± 0.02^$
Right ventricle	0.05 ± 0.00	0.05 ± 0.00	0.05 ± 0.01	0.05 ± 0.00	0.05 ± 0.00

Each data represent the mean ± SEM; n = 5;  < 0.05 significant difference compared to control (rats receiving distilled water); ^$ < 0.05 significant difference compared to hypertensive control (rats receiving L-NAME only); L-NAME + CAPT: rats treated with L-NAME and captopril at the dose of 25 mg/kg; L-NAME + MMVC (200 mg/kg): rats treated with L-NAME and plant extract (MMVC) at the dose of 200 mg/kg; L-NAME + MMVC (400 mg/kg): rats treated with L-NAME and plant extract (MMVC) at the dose of 400 mg/kg.