Pharmacological Effect of Irvingia gabonensis Leaf Extracts on Cat Blood Pressure

The effect of ethanol extract of the leaves of Irvingia gabonensis was investigated on blood pressure of normotensive adult cats. They were anaesthesized with pentobarbitone 40mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p). The carotid artery was cannulated for blood pressure measurement. All drugs were dissolved in normal saline. Administration of these drugs was through the cannula in the femoral vein. On the anaesthetized cat, the ethanol extract (2.5 -5.0 mg/kg, iv) lowered the Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP). This effect of ethanol extract was compared with Propanalol a nonselective β blocker antagonist, Adrenaline and Acetylcholine (Ach). The depressor effects of ethanol extract and Ach on cat blood pressure were dose dependent. These were blocked by pre-treatment of the animal with atropine (2.5 and 5µg/kg, iv). Propanalol did not reduce the depressor effect of extract. These results indicate that the ethanol extract of Irvingia gabonensis stimulated a dose-dependent fall in cat blood pressure possibly via the muscarinic receptors.