Evaluation of Cardiovascular Effects of Citrus Aurantifolia (Linn.) Fruit

Abstract

Citrus aurantifolia, is commonly known as kaghzi nimboo is widespread in Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan. The fruit of Citrus aurantifolia known for its nutritional values and flavor. The plant and fruit of Cirus aurantifolia has been commonly used in traditional medicine in Pakistan, Northern Ethiopia, and in Nigeria for the treatment of hypertension and other cardiac problems.The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiovascular effects of Citrus aurantifolia fruit.The anti-hypertensive effect was tested on three experimental hypertensive models including Cadmium induced hypertensive model, Glucose induced hypertensive model, Egg feed diet induced hypertensive model, and Normotensive model. The systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean blood pressure and heart rate of spargue daweley rats were measured by tail cuff method from the tail of rats using non-invasive blood pressure instrument and body weight were also measured.

Three different doses were used for screening 0.25g/kg, 05g/kg, and 0.75g/kg, orally given and there effects on normotensive rats were observed at 2hr, 4hr and 6hr intervals.The dose of 0.75g/kg was selected because it significantly reduced the mean blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate. The methanol extract of Citrus aurantifolia, administered at the dose of 0.75mg orally, significantly (p<0.01) reduced systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and body weight of spargue dawely rats in both normotensive and hypertensive experimental models when compared to control groups. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of methanol extract of Citrus aurantifolia showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, and reducing sugar. The acute toxicity study performed, for lethal and toxic dose indicated that doses up till 3g is safe and 3.5g is toxic dose. It is concluded that the methanol extract of Citrus aurantifolia produce hypotensive and anti-hypertensive effect. However, further studies are required to explain detailed mechanism.