7:50 AM
Anonymous
Individuals taking an anti-hypertensive herb, Bryophyllum pinnatum, may be at risk of kidney and liver damage, researchers have warned.
In a review of the benefit of using Bryophyllum pinnatum in the treatment of hypertension, researchers stated that although, the extract decreased blood pressure, thus supporting the claim of people who use it for this purpose; it has toxic effect on the kidney, heart and liver.
The plant, Bryophyllum pinnatum (Crassulaceae) is accepted as an herbal remedy in some parts of the world. It is commonly known as air plant, miracle leaf, life plant etc. Among the Igbos of Nigeria, it is known as ‘odaa opue’, in Yoruba as ‘ewe abamoda’ or ‘odundun’. Among the Igbos, B. pinnatum is believed to have anti-hypertensive activity. Decoction of the leaf is usually taken to lower the blood pressure.
Some people also chew the raw leaves of the plant for this purpose. In the study, which lasted for four weeks, the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum on the blood pressure of anaesthetised cats, as well as on the liver and kidney status of the rabbit were investigated. Twenty-four adult healthy rabbits of both sexes weighing between 1.2 and 2.4 kilogrammes were used for this study.
They were divided into three sex matched groups of eight animals each and maintained at room temperature. The animals in the first and second groups received 150 mg and 300 mg/kg body weight of the water extract of B. Pinnatum respectively, while those in the third group served as the control and were fed orally with the feed and water only. The plant extract was administered intraperitoneally after it was reconstituted in distilled water.
The results revealed that, the extract produced a small decrease in the blood pressure of the anaesthetised cat and also reduced the effect of adrenaline-induced elevation of blood pressure. During this investigation, it was observed that all the animals administered with the higher dose of 300 mg/kg body weight of B. pinnatum aqueous extract died after the fourth day of initiating treatment.
It was also noticed that only one rabbit showed signs of dullness, while the rest were generally asymptomatic and fed normally until they were found suddenly dead. The fall in the blood pressure of the cat, produced by the aqueous extract of B. pinnatum leaf was found to be dose dependent, but not very marked.
For every dose of the extract given, the reduction in the blood pressure, produced by the extract was found to be more pronounced with increasing dose. The hypotensive effect was, however, very transient and always returned to its original level within three minutes. The researchers stated: “The current results of the four-week study showed that the aqueous extract of the leaf of B.
pinnatum, given intraperitoneally to rabbits in daily doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight produced some biochemical and pathological changes in the animals.” They wrote: “Although, the extract decreased blood pressure supporting the claim of people that use it for that purpose, the findings here would not encourage the use of B. pinnatum for the management of hypertension. “The anti-hypertensive effect produced would not be of any real benefit considering that the fall in blood pressure was always diminutive.
One must be wary of ingesting the extract of this herb because of its potential not only to be hepatotoxic (toxic to liver) and nephrotoxic (toxic to kidney) but, at high doses, also cardiotoxic (toxic to heart).” Previously, it has been reported that Bryophyllum species are highly toxic to stock. For instance, poisoned cattle showed signs of dullness, loss of appetite and weight.
Also in Australia and Southern Africa, various Bryophyllum species have killed cattle as a result of their its toxic effect on muscles of the heart, The researchers attributed the sudden deaths of the rabbits to the same conditions noted in the case of the poisoned cattle, that is, disruption in the regular beat of the heart caused by the high dose of the aqueous extract of B.
pinnatum (300 mg/kg) administered. Meanwhile Bryophyllum pinnatum is accepted as an herbal remedy in some parts of the world. Many of the Bryophyllum’s traditional uses in the treatment of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, tummy bug, injuries from falls, numbness of limbs, bruise, burns and ulcer have been validated by animal studies and clinical investigations undertaken so far on the plant have been confirmed by the clinical research on the plant.
Its traditional use for infectious conditions (both internally and externally) is supported by research indicating that Bryophyllum leaves have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal activity. The leaf and its juice have demonstrated significant anti-bacterial activity towards Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and multi-drug resistant bacteria strains. A water extract of Bryophyllum leaves administered topically and internally has been shown to prevent and treat Leishmaniasis. Similarly the traditional uses of Bryophyllum for upper respiratory conditions and coughs have been validated by studies demonstrating that the leaf juice has potent anti-histamine and anti-allergic activities.
In a study with rats and guinea pigs, the leaf juice was able to protect against chemically induced anaphylactic reactions and death by selectively blocking histamine receptors in the lungs. On the other hand, previous laboratory study established the pharmacological basis for the use of Bryophyllum in stomach ulcer; a leaf extract protected mice from ulcer inducers such as stress, aspirin and ethanol.
The plant, Bryophyllum pinnatum (Crassulaceae) is accepted as an herbal remedy in some parts of the world. It is commonly known as air plant, miracle leaf, life plant etc. Among the Igbos of Nigeria, it is known as ‘odaa opue’, in Yoruba as ‘ewe abamoda’ or ‘odundun’. Among the Igbos, B. pinnatum is believed to have anti-hypertensive activity. Decoction of the leaf is usually taken to lower the blood pressure.
Some people also chew the raw leaves of the plant for this purpose. In the study, which lasted for four weeks, the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum on the blood pressure of anaesthetised cats, as well as on the liver and kidney status of the rabbit were investigated. Twenty-four adult healthy rabbits of both sexes weighing between 1.2 and 2.4 kilogrammes were used for this study.
They were divided into three sex matched groups of eight animals each and maintained at room temperature. The animals in the first and second groups received 150 mg and 300 mg/kg body weight of the water extract of B. Pinnatum respectively, while those in the third group served as the control and were fed orally with the feed and water only. The plant extract was administered intraperitoneally after it was reconstituted in distilled water.
The results revealed that, the extract produced a small decrease in the blood pressure of the anaesthetised cat and also reduced the effect of adrenaline-induced elevation of blood pressure. During this investigation, it was observed that all the animals administered with the higher dose of 300 mg/kg body weight of B. pinnatum aqueous extract died after the fourth day of initiating treatment.
It was also noticed that only one rabbit showed signs of dullness, while the rest were generally asymptomatic and fed normally until they were found suddenly dead. The fall in the blood pressure of the cat, produced by the aqueous extract of B. pinnatum leaf was found to be dose dependent, but not very marked.
For every dose of the extract given, the reduction in the blood pressure, produced by the extract was found to be more pronounced with increasing dose. The hypotensive effect was, however, very transient and always returned to its original level within three minutes. The researchers stated: “The current results of the four-week study showed that the aqueous extract of the leaf of B.
pinnatum, given intraperitoneally to rabbits in daily doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight produced some biochemical and pathological changes in the animals.” They wrote: “Although, the extract decreased blood pressure supporting the claim of people that use it for that purpose, the findings here would not encourage the use of B. pinnatum for the management of hypertension. “The anti-hypertensive effect produced would not be of any real benefit considering that the fall in blood pressure was always diminutive.
One must be wary of ingesting the extract of this herb because of its potential not only to be hepatotoxic (toxic to liver) and nephrotoxic (toxic to kidney) but, at high doses, also cardiotoxic (toxic to heart).” Previously, it has been reported that Bryophyllum species are highly toxic to stock. For instance, poisoned cattle showed signs of dullness, loss of appetite and weight.
Also in Australia and Southern Africa, various Bryophyllum species have killed cattle as a result of their its toxic effect on muscles of the heart, The researchers attributed the sudden deaths of the rabbits to the same conditions noted in the case of the poisoned cattle, that is, disruption in the regular beat of the heart caused by the high dose of the aqueous extract of B.
pinnatum (300 mg/kg) administered. Meanwhile Bryophyllum pinnatum is accepted as an herbal remedy in some parts of the world. Many of the Bryophyllum’s traditional uses in the treatment of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, tummy bug, injuries from falls, numbness of limbs, bruise, burns and ulcer have been validated by animal studies and clinical investigations undertaken so far on the plant have been confirmed by the clinical research on the plant.
Its traditional use for infectious conditions (both internally and externally) is supported by research indicating that Bryophyllum leaves have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal activity. The leaf and its juice have demonstrated significant anti-bacterial activity towards Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and multi-drug resistant bacteria strains. A water extract of Bryophyllum leaves administered topically and internally has been shown to prevent and treat Leishmaniasis. Similarly the traditional uses of Bryophyllum for upper respiratory conditions and coughs have been validated by studies demonstrating that the leaf juice has potent anti-histamine and anti-allergic activities.
In a study with rats and guinea pigs, the leaf juice was able to protect against chemically induced anaphylactic reactions and death by selectively blocking histamine receptors in the lungs. On the other hand, previous laboratory study established the pharmacological basis for the use of Bryophyllum in stomach ulcer; a leaf extract protected mice from ulcer inducers such as stress, aspirin and ethanol.
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