THE EFFECT OF DRACEANA ARBOREAL HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT ON SPONTANEOUSLY BEATING RAT ATRIA AND PERFUSED RABBIT HEART PREPARATION.
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Abstract
Dracaena arborea is traditionally used in African medicine for treating cardiovascular ailments, including palpitations and irregular heartbeat, yet its antiarrhythmic mechanism remains poorly defined. Cardiac arrhythmias, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, often
result from disturbances in ion channel activity, altered cardiac excitability, or impaired conduction. Although conventional antiarrhythmic drugs effectively target these pathways, their side effects and limited accessibility have prompted growing interest in plant-based
alternatives. This study investigated the in vitro antiarrhythmic potential of the methanol stem bark extract of Dracaena arborea using isolated animal heart preparations.Isolated rat atrial tissues were mounted in an organ bath containing aerated Locke-Ringer’s
solution at 37°C, while contractile responses were recorded using a force transducer connected to a data acquisition system. The effect of cumulative concentrations of the extract on cardiac contractility and rhythm was assessed. Additionally, the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model was employed to evaluate the extract’s influence on experimentally induced arrhythmias. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM and analysed using GraphPad Prism, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the Dracaena arborea extract produced a concentrationdependent reduction in the force and rate of contraction of isolated rat atria. In the Langendorff model, the extract significantly suppressed arrhythmic activity induced by adrenaline and calcium overload, showing a stabilizing effect on cardiac rhythm comparable to standard antiarrhythmic agents such as propranolol. These findings suggest that the extract may exert its action through modulation of calcium influx or β-adrenergic receptor blockade. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying its antiarrhythmic properties could contribute to the development of novel plant-based therapeutic agents for arrhythmia and vascular dysfunction.
result from disturbances in ion channel activity, altered cardiac excitability, or impaired conduction. Although conventional antiarrhythmic drugs effectively target these pathways, their side effects and limited accessibility have prompted growing interest in plant-based
alternatives. This study investigated the in vitro antiarrhythmic potential of the methanol stem bark extract of Dracaena arborea using isolated animal heart preparations.Isolated rat atrial tissues were mounted in an organ bath containing aerated Locke-Ringer’s
solution at 37°C, while contractile responses were recorded using a force transducer connected to a data acquisition system. The effect of cumulative concentrations of the extract on cardiac contractility and rhythm was assessed. Additionally, the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model was employed to evaluate the extract’s influence on experimentally induced arrhythmias. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM and analysed using GraphPad Prism, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the Dracaena arborea extract produced a concentrationdependent reduction in the force and rate of contraction of isolated rat atria. In the Langendorff model, the extract significantly suppressed arrhythmic activity induced by adrenaline and calcium overload, showing a stabilizing effect on cardiac rhythm comparable to standard antiarrhythmic agents such as propranolol. These findings suggest that the extract may exert its action through modulation of calcium influx or β-adrenergic receptor blockade. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying its antiarrhythmic properties could contribute to the development of novel plant-based therapeutic agents for arrhythmia and vascular dysfunction.
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