Abstract

Mimosa invisa Mart ex. Colla (Fabaceae) is a plant used by the traditherapeuts in arterial hypertension treatment. The pharmacological study of an aqueous extract of this plant (Miv) on the rabbit blood pressure, shows that, for varying dose of 10-1 to 30 mg/kg BW, this extract provokes a dose-dependent hypotension. Consequently, Miv is a hypotensive substance. Moreover, the hypertension caused by adrenalin with the dose of 5.10-4 mg/kg BW is reduced significatively (P < 0,001) in dose-dependent way and even is cancelled by Miv injection in rabbits with the varying doses from 5 to 30 mg/kg BW. Therefore, Miv is also an antihypertensive substance which opposes to the effects of activation of β-adrenergic receptors by adrenalin. The hypotensive and antihypertensive properties of Miv are consolidated by the characterization in the phytochemical screening of this extract, of the metabolites such as the flavonoid, polyphenols, coumarins and the anthocyans which are famously being known for their antihypertensive effects. The hypotensive and antihypertensive effects of Mimosa invisa (Fabaceae) aqueous extract consequently justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine in the arterial hypertension treatment.