Ameliorative effect of Parinari curatellifolia seed extracts on sodium nitroprusside–induced cardiovascular toxicity in rats

The pharmacological potential of Parinari curatellifolia has remained largely unexplored by the scientific community and little information is available to support the folkloric and ethnobotanical uses of the plant. This present study was carried out to investigate the ameliorative effect of P. curatellifolia seed extracts on sodium nitroprusside (SNP) toxicity on the heart and artery in rats. P. curatellifolia seed crude aqueous-methanolic extract (CMPC) as well as n-hexane (HFPC), dichloromethane (DFPC), ethyl acetate (EFPC), and n-butanolic (BFPC) fractions was prepared and screened for phytoconstituents. In the in vitro test, crude extract and fractions were assessed for antiperoxidative potential in SNP-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rat heart and artery. For in vivo assessment, CMPC (400, 500, and 600 mg/kg bwt) and the fractions (5 and 6 mg/kg bwt) were co-administered with 5 mg/kg SNP to Wistar rats for 7 days. Extent of LPO in the heart and artery and serum activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) as well as concentrations of bilirubin, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were evaluated. The result of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phlobatannins, and cardiac glycosides. SNP toxicity significantly (p < 0.05) increased LPO, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels as well as the activities of AST and ALT. However, the extracts reversed the effect of SNP toxicity. The study revealed the protective effect of P. curatellifolia against SNP-induced cardiovascular toxicity in rats. The study plant could serve as a good therapeutic agent to combat cardiovascular-related complications.