The Effects of Aqueous Extract of Cleistanthus Collinus (Roxb.) (Euphorbiaceae) Leaves On Rat Blood Pressure

The genus Cleistanthus (Euphorbiaceae) comprises about 140 species which includes Cleistanthus collinus, Cleistanthus patulus, Cleistanthus schlechteri, and Cleistanthus gracili.^[1] Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. ex Hook. f. (Euphorbiaceae) is known as a toxic plant and found in Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.^[2] In India, this plant is commonly used as a suicidal poison. All parts of the plant are reported to be toxic and used as suicidal, homicidal, cattle and fish poison and for inducing criminal abortion.^[3] In patients, the clinical manifestations of C. collinus poisoning include hyperthermia, hypokalemia, ECG abnormalities (prolongation of QT interval, ST depression, and flat P wave), and elevation of hepatic enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT).^[2] In some clinical cases, a water decoction of C. collinus causes fall in blood pressure.^[2] Hence, this study was planned to determine the effects of aqueous extract of C. collinus leaves on rat blood pressure using an invasive procedure. Read More ....