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Abstract

The aim of the current investigation was to examine the vascular responsiveness to different extracts obtained from M. cochinchinensis using isolated Sprague Dawley (SD) rat aortic rings preparations. The fresh aerial parts of the plant were dried, pulverized into powder and sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water using hot extraction method. The effects of three concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2 mg mL-1) of each extract on rat thoracic aorta were tested using cumulative concentrations of noradrenaline (NA). The data showed that all the extracts had the ability to relax vascular smooth muscle; however, high concentrations of the methanol and water extracts caused the most significant (p<0.05) reduction in NA-induced vasoconstriction as compared to petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. Polyphenolic content, HPLC profiling and IR spectra were indicative of the presence of diterpenoid constituents. The results collectively suggested the presence of some biologically active ingredients of possible diterpenoid nature that have the ability to modulate the action of naturally occurring vasoactive agents such as NA on vascular smooth muscle responses in vitro.