title: The pharmacological effects of an aqueous extract from Acacia nilotica seeds.
abstract: An aqueous extract of the seed of Acacia nilotica was investigated for its pharmacological profile. On the isolated guinea-pig ileum, the extract displayed sustained dose-related contractile activity. The contractions which were reduced by hexamethonium, promethazine or atropine were completely abolished by nifedipine. The intravenous (i.v.) administration of the extract (11, 22, 44, 55 microg/kg) to anaesthetized cats produced a dose-related significant elevation of blood pressure. The mechanisms of the spasmogenic and vasoconstrictor actions of the extract have not been determined, however, the results suggest the involvement of calcium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, P. M. B. 21, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amos
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Akah
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Odukwe
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gamaniel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wambede
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia / Q000737:chemistry; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002415:Cats; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011398:Promethazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018738:Hexamethonium; D001285:Atropine; D011398:Promethazine; D009543:Nifedipine; D000109:Acetylcholine