Abstract
Vitexin was isolated and identified from fruit of Prosopis farcta (Iraqi indigenous). Cardiovascular actions of vitexin were studied in vitro and in vivo. Vitexin produced a positive inotropic effect on isolated atrium of the rabbit which was not related to Beta 1 adrenergic receptor activation. Vitexin had no vasodilator activity nor it could reverse the vasoconstrictor responses of the isolated pulmonary artery of the rabbit to potassium chloride and phenylephrine.vitexin has produced a significant increase in urine flow and urinary sodium and potassium excretions in healthy and mild hypertensive volunteers and in rabbit. Moreover, vitexin significantly reduced mean arterial blood pressure of the mild hypertensive volunteers and rabbits. This hypotensive effect of vitexin is not related to a direct vasodilatation or to blocking alpha and Beta adrenergic receptors. The most likely mechanism of action of vitexin as a hypotensive compound is through its diuretic effects.
