title: Mechanisms of cardiovascular activity of Andrographis paniculata in the anaesthetized rat.
abstract: The cardiovascular activities of crude water extract (WE) of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae), its three semi-purified ethyl acetate (FA), n-butanol (FB) and aqueous (FC) fractions, as well as andrographolide, a major plant constituent, were elucidated in anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for the very first time. FA and andrographolide, which possesses multiple pharmacological activities, elicited no drop in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), while WE, FB and FC produced a significant fall in MAP in a dose-dependent manner without significant decrease in heart rate. The ED50 values for WE, FB and FC were 11.4, 5.0 and 8.6 mg/kg-respectively. These suggested that the hypotensive substance(s) of the crude water extract was concentrated in FB. Pharmacological antagonist studies were consequently only tested in FB (5 mg/kg). The hypotensive action of FB was not mediated through effects on the beta-adrenoceptor, muscarinic cholinergic receptor and angiotensin-converting enzyme, for it was not affected by propranolol, atropine and captapril, respectively. However, it seems to work via alpha-adrenoceptors, autonomic ganglion and histaminergic receptors, since the hypotensive effect of FB was negated or attenuated in the presence of phentolamine, hexamethonium as well as pyrilamine and cimetidine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol; D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000440:Butanols / Q000737:chemistry; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000440:Butanols; D004224:Diterpenes; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D014867:Water; C030419:andrographolide; C007650:ethyl acetate; D020001:1-Butanol