Kolaviron Attenuates Elevation in Blood Pressure and Ameliorates Dyslipidemia in Salt-Induced Hypertensive Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Antilipidemic and smooth muscle inhibition are known properties of kolaviron (KV), a biflavanoid of Garcinia kola-fraction. 
This study investigated of the hypothesis that KV may prevent elevation in blood pressure and dyslipidemia in hypertension. 
Thirty-two (32) sprague-dawley rats (inbred) weighing 110-130g were randomly separated into four groups of 8 rats each. 
Control rats (CR) received normal rat chow and water ad libitum. Group received rat chow containing 8% NaCl (high salt dietHSD); while the remaining experimental groups were concomitantly given HSD + 200 mg/kg bw/day of KV and/or 2.3 mg/kg 
bw/day of lisinopril (LP) respectively by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Measurements of blood pressure [(Bp) (mmHg)] were by the 
cuff-tail artery blood pressure and the blood pressure transducer via cannulation of the left common carotid artery following 
anaesthesia with urethane. The heart rate [(HR)(bpm)] was determined by counting the number of arterial pulses over a period 
of 60 seconds. 5 ml of blood was collected from the carotid artery for lipid profile including total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides 
(TGC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). Results showed that systolic, diastolic, mean arterial 
and pulse pressures (mmHg) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the HSD-fed rats (HSDFR) compared to the CR. KV attenuated 
elevation in blood pressure and prevented dyslipidemia in HSDFR. Also, serum levels of TC, TGC, LDL were higher while HDL 
levels were lower in the salt-induced hypertensive than the CR. TC, TGC, LDL, Total/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios decreased 
significantly (p<0.05) in HSDFR-co treated with KV compared to HSDFR. Heart rate showed no significant change. The results 
from the present study demonstrated that, kolaviron attenuates elevation in blood pressure, ameliorates dyslipidemia in saltinduced hypertension and may be effective in the improvement of atherogenic indices in the cardiovascular system.