ABSTRACT
Trigonella Foenum-gaecum L. contains a broad spectrum of therapeutic properties. It is used as galactagogue and antidiabetic among others in traditional medicine practice. Effects of methanol and hexane extracts of the seeds of Trigonella Foenum-gaecum L. on blood pressure was evaluated in normotensive male adult cats. Intravenously administered doses: (0.1 mg/ml, 1mg/ml, 10 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml) of the extracts to anaesthetized normotensive cats produced decrease in mean diastolic, and systolic and mean arterial pressures in a graded dose response manner but the decrease was significant as on the dose of 100mg/ml on diastolic blood pressure 14.50 Â� 0.50 mmHg (hexane extract) and 13.50 Â� 2.50 mmHg (methanol extract) while dose of Ach 10μg/ml produced a fall in mean diastolic, systolic, and means arterial pressure of 13.5 Â� 2.50 mmHg, 22 Â� 4.0 mmHg, and 16.3 Â� 2.5 mmHg respectively. Atropine (25mg/ml) at all tolerable doses did not block the hypotensive effect of both extracts but rather potentiated the effect of the extracts. The methanol and hexane extracts of the seeds of Trigonella Foenum-gaecum L. decreases both the force and rate of myocardial contraction in a concentration dependent manner. The results obtained on Isolated Rabbit Prefused Heart Experiment shows that Methanol and Hexane extracts' blood pressure and myocardial relaxation effects may be by the combined effects of myocardial depression, restorative function of the plant high vitamin c content or/ and muscarinic receptor mediated vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Results of the experiment indicated that the plant Trigonella Foenum-gaecum L. has blood lowering properties properties, and therefore, lend pharmaco-physiological credence to folkloric, ethnomedical use of the plant in management and/or control of high blood pressure in some rural communities. Keywords: Fenugreek, Trigonella Foenum-gaecum, blood pressure, myocardic contractility.