title: Evaluation of the relaxant activity of some United Arab Emirates plants on intestinal smooth muscle.
abstract: Although medicinal plants are used as antispasmodic agents in folk medicine there have been no scientific studies of the phytochemical composition and usefulness of these plants for such treatment. Extracts of 23 plants used in the traditional medicine of the United Arab Emirates were tested for their effects on intestinal smooth muscle activity. Most of the plants tested caused stimulation followed by inhibition of the motility of the rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig ileum. The inhibitory effect of plants that had EC50 values < 1 mg was confirmed in-vivo using the gastrointestinal transit time test. These plants were phytochemically screened for their secondary constituents. The effect of Rhazya stricta was investigated, particularly in relation to acetylcholine effect. The results indicated the potential of some of the plants, especially Rhazya stricta, as a source of antispasmodic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tanira
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Wasfi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chandranath
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D014479:United Arab Emirates
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001285:Atropine; D000109:Acetylcholine