Authored by Seriki SA*
Abstract
Background: Desmodium adscendens is one of the medicinal herbs used in the management of some medical conditions in recent times. The current study investigates the effects of aqueous leave extract of Desmodium adscendens on the serum levels of Sodium, Chloride, Potassium, and Bicarbonate ions, and the implication on cardiovascular function in healthy wistar rats.
Method: Twenty-four (24) wistar rats grouped into four (n=6) were used for the research. Group 1 served as control, while Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated orally with low, median and high doses of the extract of D adscendens for four weeks, after which blood was collected separately from each group and the serum level of the electrolyte determined by appropriate methods and comparison made with the control group and among the groups.
Results: There was significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum concentration of Sodium, Chloride and Bicarbonate ions, and significant increase in Potassium ion concentration.
Conclusions: The significant decrease in serum concentration of Na+, Cl-, HCO3- and significant decrease indicate that the extract has the potential to lower blood pressure, and that may be attributed to the active phytochemical constituents present in the leave. Therefore D. adscendens leaf has beneficial hypotensive potential on cardiovascular functions.
Keywords: Serum electrolytes; Hypotensive potentials; Cardiovascular function; Desmodium adscendens
Introduction
Traditional Medicines have over time given alternatives to conventional and orthodox medicines in the treatment of many conditions at more affordable rates, especially to poor rural populace in developing nations. They are also readily available to the larger population living in the rural settlements [1].
Desmodium adscendens
Desmodium adscendens is one among such useful medicinal plants that have recently gained the attention of many researchers. Previous studies have revealed Desmodium adscendens that has been traditionally used by the locals in managing medical conditions such as: muscle cramp, tendon, spinal pain, bronchitis, epilepsy and some central nervous system disorders, among many others [2]. The herb is of the Family - “Fabaceae”; and genus - Desmodium. It is often described in English as Beggar- lice or Tick Clover [2].
Serum electrolytes
Serum electrolytes are salts and minerals, such as sodium, potassium, chloride calcium and bicarbonate, which are found in the blood, and conduct electrical impulses in the body. They could be higher or lower than the normal level it should be in the blood, sometimes resulting in serious health conditions. An electrolyte test can help determine whether or not an electrolyte imbalance exists in the body. It is among the most commonly used laboratory tests for assessment of a patient’s clinical conditions and disease states, because electrolyte balance in the body is essential for normal functioning of cells & organs [1]. Electrolyte disorders are common complications frequently seen in patients with heart failure, seizures, and coma. They occur when serum electrolytes concentrations are either too high or too low. Their concentrations need to be balanced for the body to function properly [3]. The imbalance may result from pathological alterations leading to stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), sympathoadrenergic stimulation, a neurohormonal activation, and sometimes, cardiac glycosides or ACE inhibitors [3].
Sodium ion
The most available cation in the extracellular fluid is sodium. It plays a very important role in regulating water balance in the body. Its normal serum level ranges from 130 to 145 mmol/L. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as arginine vasopressin is a non-peptide hormone that regulates renal handling of free water. Alteration of the amount of water reabsorbed by the kidney has an important effect on serum sodium concentration. ADH is secreted by the neurons in the supra-optic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, and its release is stimulated by hypovolemia, thirst, increased serum osmolality, and angiotensin II [4]. In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, renin from the juxtaglomerumar apparatus of the kidney catalyzes the conversion of angiotensinogen in the liver to angiotensin I, which is further converted to angiotensin II (in the lungs) by Angiotensin converting Enzyme (ACE) [5]. Angiotensin II, which is a vasoconstrictor enhances optimal perfusion pressure to end organs, especially when plasma volume is decreased. It also induces the release of aldosterone, ADH and cortisol. Aldosterone is a hormone released from the adrenal cortex of the kidneys with mineralocorticoidal actions, which affects the distal tubular reabsorption and retention of sodium rather than water [6].
Potassium ions
Potassium represents an important ion of the human body. About 98% of the body’s potassium pool is present in the intracellular compartment, leading to a steep potassium concentration gradient across cellular membranes, indicating why potassium is particularly important to maintain the cellular membrane potential. It regulates the heartbeat and function of muscles. Normal serum potassium level = 3.5-5.0 m Eq/L. Potassium, along with sodium is involved with regulation of water and acid-base balance in blood and tissue [7]. In mammals, the osmotic pressure and water distribution maintenance is the primary function of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. In addition, they play a role in maintenance of pH, in oxidation reduction reactions, in heart muscle functioning and as co-factors for enzymes [6]. The body has two mechanisms to restore potassium balance when the serum potassium level goes up: by shifting the plasma potassium into cells, and by renal elimination [8].
Chloride ion
The chloride ion is the principal extracellular anion in humans with a concentration of about 95-110 mmol/L. It is passively absorbed from the upper small intestine and primarily regulated by the renal proximal tubules, where it is exchanged for bicarbonate ions. and passively follows sodium and water through during renal tubular reabsorption by the nephron [8]. Homeostatic mechanisms indirectly regulate Chloride ion through changes in sodium and bicarbonate. Being an anion, Sodium will balance out positive charges in the extracellular fluid, and by passively following sodium, it helps to maintain extracellular osmolality.
Bicarbonate ion
Bicarbonate ion is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid. It is a polyatomic anion with the chemical formula HCO3-. It serves a crucial biochemical role in the physiological pH buffering system [8]. Bicarbonate (HCO−3) is a vital component of the pH buffering system [9] of the human body (maintaining acid– base homeostasis). 70%–75% of CO2 in the body is converted into carbonic acid (H2CO3CO), which is the conjugate acid of HCO−3 and can quickly turn into it.
With carbonic acid as the central intermediate species, bicarbonate, in conjunction with water, hydrogen ions, and carbon dioxide – forms the buffering system, which is maintained at the volatile equilibrium [9] required to provide prompt resistance to pH changes in both the acidic and basic directions. This is especially important for protecting tissues of the central nervous system, where pH changes too far outside of the normal range in either direction could prove disastrous. A higher serum bicarbonate concentration is associated with higher left ventricular mass, higher aortic pulse pressure and a higher risk of heart failure among nonusers of diuretics [10].
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