title: Effect of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Mahonia aquifolium on the isolated rat aorta.
abstract: 1. The extract from roots of Mahonia aquifolium as well as berbamine and oxyacanthine relaxed K(+)-precontracted rat aortal rings with IC50 values of about 20 mumol/l. 2. Relaxation was not inhibited by denudation of the endothelium or by premedication of the aortas with indomethacin, methylene blue or propranolol. 3. Berbamine and oxyacanthine inhibited contractions induced by noradrenaline, phenylephrine and serotonin in a non-competitive manner. Further, they competitively blocked calcium-induced contraction in Ca(2+)-free depolarizing PSS. 4. The blockade of calcium entry appears to be the main mechanism of the dilatory effect of the drugs tested, but their interaction with alpha-adrenoceptors could not be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Pharmacology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sotníková
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kost'álová
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaverková
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine; D012701:Serotonin; C092646:oxyacanthine; D002118:Calcium; C027870:berbamine; D009638:Norepinephrine