Abstract:
Launaea taraxacifolia has been traditionally used for the management of conditions such as cardiovascular,
respiratory, and metabolic diseases. High blood pressure was established by oral administration of L-Nitro Arginine
Methyl Ester (L-NAME) a non-selective inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The antihypertensive
action of the methanol leaf extract of L. taraxacifolia was examined. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of
10 animals per group: Group A (Distilled water), Group B (Hypertensive rats; 40mg/kg L-NAME), Group C
(Hypertensive rats plus 100 mg/kg extract), Group D (Hypertensive rats plus 200 mg/kg extract) and Group E
(Hypertensive rats plus 10mg/kg of Lisinopril). The treatments were orally administered for five weeks. Haemodynamic
parameters, urinalysis, indices of oxidative stress and immunohistochemistry were determined. Findings from this study
showed that blood pressure parameters, urinary sodium and indices of oxidative stress increased significantly while Invivo
antioxidant defence systems decreased significantly in hypertensive rats. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant
increases in expressions of mineralocorticoid receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme activity and kidney injury
molecule-1 in kidney of hypertensive rats. Treatment with Launeae taraxacifolia normalized blood pressure parameters,
urinary sodium, oxidative stress indices, antioxidant defence system, and serum nitric oxide bioavailability.
