Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2013 Jan;6(1):37-42. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60197-7.
To investigate the effects of an aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana (A. wilkesiana) on plasma chemistry and hematological indices of sub-chronic salt-loaded rats.
The control group received a diet consisting 100% of the commercial feed, while the four test groups were received a diet consisting 8% salt and 92% commercial feed all through, except for the reference treatment group that had its salt-loading discontinued after six weeks. The extract was orally administered daily at 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight; while the test control, reference and control groups received appropriate volumes of water by the same route.
The extract had no negative effects on markers of liver and kidney functions, produced hemoconcentration, significantly higher (P<0.05) plasma calcium and potassium levels, and significantly lower (P<0.05) plasma sodium and chloride levels in the test animals compared to test control.
This result supports the traditional use of A. wilkesiana in the management of hypertension and suggests that the extract may be a potassium sparing diuretic whose mechanism of antihypertensive action may be via alteration of plasma sodium and potassium balances or calcium mediated alteration in vascular muscle tone.
研究水提 Acalypha wilkesiana（A. wilkesiana）叶提取物对亚慢性盐负荷大鼠血浆化学和血液学指标的影响。
对照组给予 100%商业饲料，而四组实验组给予 8%盐和 92%商业饲料，除参考治疗组在六周后停止盐负荷外，均通过相同途径给予 200 和 250mg/kg 体重的提取物进行口服治疗；而测试对照组、参考组和对照组则通过相同途径给予适量的水。
与测试对照组相比，该提取物对肝功能和肾功能标志物没有负面影响，导致血液浓缩，血浆钙和钾水平显著升高（P<0.05），而血浆钠和氯水平显著降低（P<0.05）。
这一结果支持将 A. wilkesiana 用于治疗高血压的传统用途，并表明该提取物可能是一种保钾利尿剂，其降压作用机制可能是通过改变血浆钠和钾平衡或钙介导的血管肌肉张力变化。
