**3.1. Brief description**

*Parkia biglobosa*, also called the African Locust Bean tree is a multipurpose tree indigenous to the tropical regions of West Africa. *Parkia biglobosa* belongs to the family Mimosaceae (Legu‐ minosae - Mimosoideae) [79-evidences. Therefore, studies of the]. *Parkia biglobosa* is a widespread savannah tree used for nutritional and medicinal purposes [7, 81, 71]. The matured tree can grow up to 30 m in height with a crown large of low branches. The bark is thick and fissured with a grey to brown colour. The leaves are alternate, dark green and bipinnate. The leaves are about 8-30 mm x 1.5-8 mm in size with 13-60 pairs of leaflets held on a long rachis [82].

hypertension. A summary of traditional medicine practices from different West African

*Abbreviations*: W: water, P: petroleum ester, C: Chloroform, M: Methanol, +: Present, - : Absent.

**Table 4.** Brief summary of the bioactive components in *Parkia biglobosa*

**Plant** *Parkia biglobosa*

**Extracts (W,P,C,M) Leaf extracts Bark extracts Root extracts**

Saponins + + + [85, 86, 87] Cardiac Glycosides + + + [85, 87]

Potential Role of *Parkia biglobosa* in the Management and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Tannins + + + [85, 86, 87]

coumarins, catechins) <sup>+</sup> <sup>+</sup> <sup>+</sup> [85, 86, 87]

Alkaloids - + + [85, 87] Resins + + + [85] Carbohydrates + + + [85] Sterols and Terpenoids + + + [86, 87, 88]

*REFERENCES*

357

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57229

The fact that repetitive information was obtained from traditional healers and population from diverse regions and countries indicated the need to scientifically authenticate these folkloric evidence. Therefore, studies of the extracts of *Parkia biglobosa* have been conducted and experimental and clinical data are now recognizing the health benefits attributed to *Parkia biglobosa* in its diverse parts. *Parkia biglobosa* bark extracts have been identified to have significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial and anti-helminthic activities. For example, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory property of *Parkia biglobosa* bark extract in the management of toothache has been demonstrated [102]. The anti-venom activity of the bark extract against snake bites has also been reported [103]. In 2007, some clinical investigations described the antibacterial properties of *Parkia biglobosa* bark and root extracts against *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, *Escherichia coli*, *Shigella dysenteriae* responsible for urinary tract and digestive system infections [84, 86, 104]. Addi‐ tionally, *Parkia biglobosa* stem bark has been attributed anti-microbial effects against *Bacillus subtilitis* and was recommended as a natural preservative against pharmacological contami‐ nations [85]. *Parkia biglobosa* leaf extract were described to exhibit anti-plasmodial activity against malaria [105]. Recently, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-trypanosomic activities

**3.3. Potential benefits of** *Parkia biglobosa* **in the treatment of hypertension and CVD**

Previous investigations have indicated the hypotensive potential of *Parkia biglobosa* extracts. For example, it was reported that a methanolic seed extract decreased blood pressure in the

countries is illustrated in Table 5.

Flavonoids (Anthocyanins, flavonones,

Bioactive components

of the plant have been acknowledged [78, 97, 106-107].

The analysis of the phytochemicals present in *Parkia biglobosa* revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, sterols, resins and terpenes (Table 4) [80, 84-85].

#### **3.2. Potential health benefits of** *Parkia biglobosa*

For a long time, native populations of West Africa have been using different parts of *Parkia biglobosa* to meet their nutritional and basic health care needs. In different countries, *Parkia biglobosa* has been used as a multipurpose plant in the therapy of a variety of diseases including


*Abbreviations*: W: water, P: petroleum ester, C: Chloroform, M: Methanol, +: Present, - : Absent.

**Table 4.** Brief summary of the bioactive components in *Parkia biglobosa*

**3.** *Parkia biglobosa*

356 Antioxidant-Antidiabetic Agents and Human Health

**3.1. Brief description**

**Figure 1.** *Parkia biglobosa* [83]

**3.2. Potential health benefits of** *Parkia biglobosa*

84-85].

*Parkia biglobosa*, also called the African Locust Bean tree is a multipurpose tree indigenous to the tropical regions of West Africa. *Parkia biglobosa* belongs to the family Mimosaceae (Legu‐ minosae - Mimosoideae) [79-evidences. Therefore, studies of the]. *Parkia biglobosa* is a widespread savannah tree used for nutritional and medicinal purposes [7, 81, 71]. The matured tree can grow up to 30 m in height with a crown large of low branches. The bark is thick and fissured with a grey to brown colour. The leaves are alternate, dark green and bipinnate. The leaves are about 8-30 mm x 1.5-8 mm in size with 13-60 pairs of leaflets held on a long rachis [82].

The analysis of the phytochemicals present in *Parkia biglobosa* revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, sterols, resins and terpenes (Table 4) [80,

For a long time, native populations of West Africa have been using different parts of *Parkia biglobosa* to meet their nutritional and basic health care needs. In different countries, *Parkia biglobosa* has been used as a multipurpose plant in the therapy of a variety of diseases including hypertension. A summary of traditional medicine practices from different West African countries is illustrated in Table 5.

The fact that repetitive information was obtained from traditional healers and population from diverse regions and countries indicated the need to scientifically authenticate these folkloric evidence. Therefore, studies of the extracts of *Parkia biglobosa* have been conducted and experimental and clinical data are now recognizing the health benefits attributed to *Parkia biglobosa* in its diverse parts. *Parkia biglobosa* bark extracts have been identified to have significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial and anti-helminthic activities. For example, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory property of *Parkia biglobosa* bark extract in the management of toothache has been demonstrated [102]. The anti-venom activity of the bark extract against snake bites has also been reported [103]. In 2007, some clinical investigations described the antibacterial properties of *Parkia biglobosa* bark and root extracts against *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, *Escherichia coli*, *Shigella dysenteriae* responsible for urinary tract and digestive system infections [84, 86, 104]. Addi‐ tionally, *Parkia biglobosa* stem bark has been attributed anti-microbial effects against *Bacillus subtilitis* and was recommended as a natural preservative against pharmacological contami‐ nations [85]. *Parkia biglobosa* leaf extract were described to exhibit anti-plasmodial activity against malaria [105]. Recently, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-trypanosomic activities of the plant have been acknowledged [78, 97, 106-107].

#### **3.3. Potential benefits of** *Parkia biglobosa* **in the treatment of hypertension and CVD**

Previous investigations have indicated the hypotensive potential of *Parkia biglobosa* extracts. For example, it was reported that a methanolic seed extract decreased blood pressure in the


factors associated with hypertension and CVD. The anti-hyperlipidaemia effect of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of *Parkia biglobosa* has been described to reduce hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in diabetic rats [11]. Therefore, *Parkia biglobosa* could offer protection against the development of coronary heart diseases in diabetics [11]. Recently, another study on the methanolic leaf extract of Parkia biglobosa also confirmed protection against doxoru‐ bicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats [87]. In this study, scientists proposed that protection was offered through the antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant extract. Alternatively, it was proposed that protection against cardiotoxicity might have originated from the potential synergistic interactions among the plant phytochemicals. In fact, *Parkia biglobosa* has a rich composition of secondary metabolites which have been individually

Potential Role of *Parkia biglobosa* in the Management and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57229

359

**•** saponins (a vast group of glycosides) recently known for providing cardioprotective effects

**•** cardiac glycosides (group of steroidal glycosides) reported to act as cardiotonic agent [109],

**•** tannic acid (typical product containing hydrolysable tannins) known for its ability to reduce

**•** triterpenoids such as lupeol known to display antioxidant, anti-hypercholesterolemic and

**•** catechins (flavan-3-ol compounds) reported to reduce atherosclerotic plaques formation in

Furthermore, it was also reported that a leaf extract of *Parkia biglobosa* is a strong inducer of endothelium-dependent relaxations involving both NO and EDHF via a redox-sensitive mechanism [117]. Moreover, it was suggested that procyanidins fraction of the leaf extract exerted beneficial effects on the endothelial function by decreasing vascular tone and are the

In conclusion, many experimental and ethnoparmacological studies gave credence to the health enhancing-potential of *Parkia biglobosa* extracts in the treatment of disease conditions such as high blood pressure and CVD. However, there is still an important shortage of scientific evidence elucidating the exact mechanisms through which *Parkia biglobosa* extracts offer protection against hypertension. Therefore, further studies are warranted in CVD diseasedmodel in order to identify the main phytoconstituents involved in the hypotensive response. The mechanisms of action through which the plant extract offer protection against cardiotox‐ icity and hypertension should also be investigated. Furthermore, the indigenous population have not adopted standardised methods (the population continue to use uncontrolled dosages and in most instances, preparations of *Parkia biglobosa* extracts are stored in inappropriate conditions) on the medicinal use of the plant. Therefore, caution and care are still needed to

**•** epicatechins known to reduce the risk of stroke and heart failure [115-116].

reported to possess excellent cardiovascular properties, namely:

serum cholesterol and triglycerides [110-111],

cardioprotective activities [112-113],

major inducers of the vasorelaxation [117].

be applied on the folkloric use of *Parkia biglobosa*.

animal models [114],

in experimental model [108],

**Table 5.** West African folkloric use of *Parkia biglobosa* for the treatment of diseases

rat [10], an aqueous bark extract decreased blood pressure in rabbits [12] a hydroalcoholic bark extract of *Parkia biglobosa* caused vasorelaxation [13] and a methanolic leaf extract demonstrat‐ ed hypotensive activities [14]. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are known risk factors associated with hypertension and CVD. The anti-hyperlipidaemia effect of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of *Parkia biglobosa* has been described to reduce hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in diabetic rats [11]. Therefore, *Parkia biglobosa* could offer protection against the development of coronary heart diseases in diabetics [11]. Recently, another study on the methanolic leaf extract of Parkia biglobosa also confirmed protection against doxoru‐ bicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats [87]. In this study, scientists proposed that protection was offered through the antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant extract. Alternatively, it was proposed that protection against cardiotoxicity might have originated from the potential synergistic interactions among the plant phytochemicals. In fact, *Parkia biglobosa* has a rich composition of secondary metabolites which have been individually reported to possess excellent cardiovascular properties, namely:


Furthermore, it was also reported that a leaf extract of *Parkia biglobosa* is a strong inducer of endothelium-dependent relaxations involving both NO and EDHF via a redox-sensitive mechanism [117]. Moreover, it was suggested that procyanidins fraction of the leaf extract exerted beneficial effects on the endothelial function by decreasing vascular tone and are the major inducers of the vasorelaxation [117].

In conclusion, many experimental and ethnoparmacological studies gave credence to the health enhancing-potential of *Parkia biglobosa* extracts in the treatment of disease conditions such as high blood pressure and CVD. However, there is still an important shortage of scientific evidence elucidating the exact mechanisms through which *Parkia biglobosa* extracts offer protection against hypertension. Therefore, further studies are warranted in CVD diseasedmodel in order to identify the main phytoconstituents involved in the hypotensive response. The mechanisms of action through which the plant extract offer protection against cardiotox‐ icity and hypertension should also be investigated. Furthermore, the indigenous population have not adopted standardised methods (the population continue to use uncontrolled dosages and in most instances, preparations of *Parkia biglobosa* extracts are stored in inappropriate conditions) on the medicinal use of the plant. Therefore, caution and care are still needed to be applied on the folkloric use of *Parkia biglobosa*.

rat [10], an aqueous bark extract decreased blood pressure in rabbits [12] a hydroalcoholic bark extract of *Parkia biglobosa* caused vasorelaxation [13] and a methanolic leaf extract demonstrat‐ ed hypotensive activities [14]. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are known risk

**Countries Used Parts Traditional medicine practice References**

Treatment of digestive system diseases (diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain) Treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system Treatment of injuries and burns Treatment of infectious diseases (shingles, malaria, abscesses, yellow fever, scabies, measles, chicken-pox, oedema, jaundice) Treatment of paediatric pathologies Treatment of symptoms and syndromes: malaise, tiredness, headaches, hip pain, ache, rheumatism, elephantiasis, onset of paralysis

Treatment of oral infections: Gingivitis, toothache,

fruit, fermented seed Treatment of malaria, stomach ache [77]

Leaves Wound healing [92]

Stem bark Personal health, insect management [94]

Stem bark Treatment of trypanosomiasis, fever, ulcer, wound

Roots Treatment of hypertension, infertility, stomach ache,

Leaves Treatment of stroke, leprosy, skin lesion, eye

Treatment of malaria, urinary tract infection and

Treatment of inflammations Treatment of diarrhoea

sore eye, anti-poison

Stem bark Treatment of hypertension [7]

Treatment of haemorrhoids, Diarrhoea Cardioprotection

**Ivory coast** Stem bark Treatment of malaria [91]

sores (tongues and lips) [90]

internal wounds of pregnant women [93]

healing [78, 97]

infections [99]

[89]

[95] [96]

[98, 99]

[100] [101]

**Benin** All parts

358 Antioxidant-Antidiabetic Agents and Human Health

**Burkina Faso** Fermented seeds,

**Mali**

**Nigeria (North)**

**Nigeria (South West)**

**Nigeria (South East)**

**Togo**

**Ghana** Leaves, stem bark, raw

leaves, stem bark

Leaves, stem bark

Leaves Stem bark

Roots Stem bark

**Table 5.** West African folkloric use of *Parkia biglobosa* for the treatment of diseases
