Traditionally, the use of plant parts as source of herbal preparations for treatment of various ailments are based on the experience passed from generations to generation, virtually by oral tradition and through practice and forms part of the indigenous knowledge of people of any locality [2,3]. Most of the herbal remedies are known by our traditional healers and elderly men and women of families in our rural areas.

% inhibition=Absorbance of control - Absorbance of sample

                                      Absorbance of control

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging activity

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging activity was quantified in the presence of stable DPPH radical on the basis of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) assay system [9] as cited by Omodamiro et al. [10].

Preparation of DPPH solution

•      1 mmol/L of DPPH=0.394 g of DPPH

•      0.5 mmol - 0.197 g (197 mg)

•      150 ml=X

X=150 ×197 = 29.55 mg

       1000

About 2 ml of Telfairia occidentalis seed extract dissolved in methanol was mixed at different concentrations (12.5-200 µg/ml) with 1 ml of DPPH solution in test tube and incubated for 30 min in the dark at room temperature. 1 ml of ethanol+2 ml of test extract were used as negative control. The degree of discoloration indicates the scavenging efficacy of the extracts and absorbance was measured at 517 nm. The experiment was performed in triplicate and percentage of scavenging activity was calculated using the following equation: 

% inhibition=Absorbance of control - Absorbance of sample × 100

                                      Absorbance of control

Anti-lipid peroxidation activity

The determination of anti-lipid peroxidation activity was according to the method of Schippers [8]. The methanol extract of Telfairia occidentalis were used at different concentrations (500, 400, 300, 200, 100 mg/ml) individually. 3 ml of liver homogenate was added to 100 ml of 15 mM ferric chloride and was shaken for 30 min from collected mixture, 100 ug/ml was added with 1 ml of different concentrations of plant extract individually in different test tubes. Ascorbic acid was used as the standard (100 µg/ml). All the test tubes were incubated for 4 h at 37°C.

After incubation, 1.1 ml of 30% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and 1.1 ml of 0.65% thiobarbituric acid (TBA) were added to all tubes containing the mixture. After 30 min of incubation in a shaking water bath and subsequent cooling in ice cold water for 10 min, the tubes were centrifuged at 800 g for 15 min; the absorbance was measured at 530 nm. The percentage inhibition of lipid peroxidation was calculated by using the equation below:

% inhibition=Absorbance of control - Absorbance of sample × 100

                                      Absorbance of control

ESTIMATION OF ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE PARAMETERS

Determination of serum lactate dehydrogenase activity (U/L)

The serum lactate dehydrogenase activity was determined after 7 days of induction and treatment according to the method described by Weishaar. 2 ml of the sample was pipetted into a test tube and mixed with 1.0 ml of reagent (Randox kit). After mixing, the initial absorbance was read after 30 s and again after 1, 2, 3 min simultaneously at 340 nm using Agilent 8453 spectrophotometer. LDH activity was calculated using the following formula:

U/L=9683 × DA 340 nm/min

Where, DA: change in absorbance

Determination of serum sodium ion concentration (mEq/L)

Sodium content was determined using spectrophotometric method and commercial kit following procedures prescribed by the producer, TECO Diagnostics, USA. Test tubes were set up and were labeled blank, standard and sample and 1 ml of the filtrate reagent was pipette into each. To the standard 50 µl of the standard solution was added while the same volume of distilled water was added to the blank. 50 µl of sample (serum) was also added to corresponding test tubes. All tubes were shaken vigorously for 3 min to ensure adequate mixing and thereafter were centrifuged at high speed for 10 min to obtain supernatant of each. Another set of test tubes were set up and labeled as previously done. 1 ml of the acid reagent was pipette into each, followed by the addition of 50 µl of each supernatant to respective test tubes and properly mixed. The color reagent (50 µl) was then added to each test tube and mixed. The spectrophotometer was zeroed before reading the absorbance of each sample at 550 nm.

Concentration of sodium for each sample in mEq/L was calculated using the relationship:

  Absorbance of sample   × Concentration of standard

Absorbance of standard

Determination of serum creatine phosphokinase activity

The activity of creatine phosphokinase was determined according to the method described by Szasz (Randox C.K. 110 kit was utilized for the quantitative in vitro determination of the enzyme in serum). 20 ml of the sample was pipetted into a test tube and mixed with 1ml of the reagent (Randox C.K 110 kit). The mixture was left to incubate at 25°C for 3 min and the initial absorbance was read. The absorbance was taken again after 1, 2 and 3 min simultaneously at 340 nm using an Agilent 8453 spectrophotometer. The creatine phosphokinase activity was calculated using the formula:

U/L=4127 × DA340 nm/min

Where DA: Change in absorbance

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effect of methanol extract of T. occidentalis seed on serum sodium ion concentration of wistar albino rats

Figure 1 shows the effect of methanol seed extract of Telfairia occidentalis on serum sodium ion concentration of albino rats. A significant increase in rats treated with 0.2 ml distilled water (169.85 ± 5.42) was observed compared to the other groups (P˂0.05). There was a significant reduction in 100 mg/kg extract treated group (112.05 ± 1.68) compared to the other groups (P˂0.05). There was no significant difference for rats treated with 200 mg/kg (134.78 ± 2.17), 400 mg/kg extract (129.67 ± 0.76) compared to the standard drug captopril (131.52 ± 5.43) (P˂0.05).

Effect of methanol extract of T. occidentalis seed on serum creatinine phosphokinase level of wistar albino rats

Figure 2 shows the effect of methanol extract of Telfairia occidentalis seed on serum creatine phosphokinase of wistar albino rats. There was a significant decrease in serum phosphokinase level of 0.2 ml treated rats (0.31 ± 0.02) compared to all other groups P˂0.05. A significant increase was observed in 10 mg/kg NaCl treated albino rats P˂0.05. Albino rats treated with 400 mg/kg (0.60 ± 0.01) showed a significant reduction in serum creatine phosphokinase level compared to 10 mg/kg NaCl (0.85 ± 0.12) treated group P˂0.05, there was no significant difference between the 100 mg/kg extract (0.81 ± 0.03), 200 mg/kg (0.70 ± 0.02), 400 mg/kg (0.60 ± 0.01) extracts treated groups compared to the standard drug captopril (0.67 ± 0.02) P˂0.05.

Effect of methanol extracts of Telfairia occidentalis seed on serum lactate dehydrogenase level of treated albino rats

Figure 3 shows the effect of methanol extract of Telfairia occidentalis seed on serum lactate dehydrogenase level of wistar albino rats. There was a significant reduction of serum lactate dehydrogenase level of 0.2 ml (118.65 ± 1.69) treated albino rats compared to all other groups P˂0.05. A significant increase was observed in 10 mg/kg NaCl (144.81 ± 5.57) (P˂0.05). Albino rats treated with 200 mg/kg (130.88 ± 1.39), 400 mg/kg (130.82 ± 4.67) shows a significant reduction compared to 10 mg/kg NaCl (144.81 ± 5.57) treated albino rats (P˂0.05).there was no significant difference in serum lactate dehydrogenase level of 100 mg/kg (144.81 ± 5.57), 200 mg/kg (130.88 ± 1.39), 400 mg/kg (130.82 ± 4.67) extract treated groups compared to the standard drug captopril (128.69 ± 1.57) (P˂0.05).

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF Telfairia occidentalis SEED

DPPH scavenging activity

Figure 4 shows a dose dependent increase in DPPH scavenging activity of Telfairia occidentalis seed P<0.05. A significant increase was observed in the positive control 96.32 ± 0.32 compared to different doses of extract of Telfairia occidentalis seed P<0.05.

Nitric oxide inhibition activity

Figure 5 shows a dose dependent significant increase in nitric oxide inhibition activity of Telfairia occidentalis seed P<0.05. A significant increase was observed in the positive control 97.64 ± 0.29 compared to different doses of extract of Telfairia occidentalis seed P<0.05.

Anti-lipid peroxidation

Figure 6 shows a significant dose dependent increase in percentage anti-lipid peroxidation of Telfairia occidentalis seed extracts (P<0.05). A significant increase was observed in the positive control 97.19 ± 0.36 compared to Telfairia occidentalis seed extract of 100 mg/kg (18.05 ± 2.96), 200 mg/kg (56.37 ± 2.25), 300 mg/kg (65.92 ± 1.07), 400 mg/kg (86.80 ± 1.04), Telfairia occidentalis seed of 500 mg/kg (99.30 ± 0.28), shows an insignificant increase in percentage anti-lipid peroxidation compared to the positive control 97.19 ± 0.36 (P<0.05).

DISCUSSION

The high rate of sodium chloride (NaCl) consumption today has been implicated in the high incidence of hypertension [11]. The study aimed at evaluating the ameliorative potentials of methanol extracts of T. occidentalis seed in sodium chloride (NaCl) induced hypertensive rats. The effect of high sodium chloride on phosphocreatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium ion (Na⁺) concentration was evaluated. The study also determines the in vitro antioxidant activities of T. occidentalis seed.

The result of the DPPH scavenging activity of methanol extracts of T. occidentalis seed suggested a significant dose dependent increase. Maximum activity was observed in 500 mg/kg dose. This observed DPPH scavenging activity may be due to the neutralization of free radicals either by the transfer of hydrogen atom or the transfer of an electron. Thus this could be attributed to the presence of active phytoconstituents in T. occidentalis seed.

Studies have shown that nitric oxide plays a vital role in various inflammatory processes such as carcinomas, juvenile diabetes, arthritis [12]. Nitric oxide is a potent pleitropic inhibitor of physiological processes such as smooth muscle relaxation, neural signaling and a regulator of cell mediated toxicity. The result of the nitric oxide inhibition assay shows a significant dose dependent percentage inhibition of nitric oxide by T. occidentalis seed extract.

Reactive oxygen species induce membrane damage by peroxidizing lipid moieties particularly the polyunsaturated fatty acids in a chain reaction known as lipid peroxidation. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation is considered the most important index of antioxidant activity. The result of the anti-lipid peroxidation assay of methanol extracts of T. occidentalis seed showed a significant dose dependent percentage increase. This result indicates that T. occidentalis seed can possibly prevent cellular abnormalities caused by free radicals by breaking down the chain reaction responsible for lipid peroxidation.

Lactate dehydrogenase is found in the cells of almost all body tissue, it catalyses the inter-conversion of pyruvate to lactate with concomitant inter-conversion of NADH and NAD⁺ [13]. Tissue injury could result in the release of lactate dehydrogenase into the blood stream. Analysis of the isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase in the blood facilitates the diagnosis of some diseases. Groff and Gropper [13] and Hazra et al. [14] reported that mRNA expression of lactate dehydrogenase on the glycolytic metabolic pathway of the heart was markedly higher in spontaneously hypertensive rats compared to the control. Lactate dehydrogenase release into blood circulation has been linked to cardiac tissue damage. Phosphocreatine kinase is associated with hypertension [15]. High blood flow leads to injury to the muscle due to stretch activity thus creatine kinase leaks into the blood circulation [16]. The result from the analysis of serum phosphocreatine shows a significant increase in 10 mg/kg sodium chloride treated rats (p˂0.05). Rats treated with 400 mg/kg methanol extract of Telfairia occidentalis seed showed a significant reduction (p˂0.05) in serum phophocreatine kinase [17].

The significant reduction of serum phosphocreatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase by the treatment with methanol extracts of Telfairia occidentalis seed can protect against cardiac tissue damage.

Sodium ion is one of the four major electrolytes abundant in extracellular ion. It plays an important role in body water balance and muscle contraction. The result from the analysis of serum sodium ion concentration of treated albino rats showed a significant reduction in serum sodium ion level of treated albino rats [18].

CONCLUSION

Methanol seed extract of Telfairia occidentalis possess antihypertensive properties, due to its antioxidant composition and equally can ameliorate the changes in hypertensive parameters induced by sodium chloride (NaCl).