title: Neuromuscular blocking effects of an alkaloidal extract from Inula royleana: contractile and electrical studies on amphibian skeletal muscle in vitro.
abstract: The neuromuscular blocking properties of an alkaloidal extract from the root of Inula royleana have been investigated in vitro using a combination of mechanical and electrophysiological approaches. Neurogenic twitches of the frog sartorius were profoundly inhibited by concentrations of the extract > or = 20 micrograms/ml, being reduced to 50% of control amplitude in approximately 90 s at a concentration of > or = 20 micrograms/ml. They were partially reversed by neostigmine (6 micrograms/ml), and by prolonged washout of the extract. Muscle surface action potentials, recorded with extracellular electrodes, also declined rapidly in amplitude in the presence of the extract. Direct muscle stimulation during inhibition by the extract elicited contractions and action potentials whose magnitudes were similar to control responses. Resting membrane potentials, and the intracellular input impedance of the skeletal muscle cells, were not significantly changed by the alkaloids. These results indicate that the extract has significant neuromuscular blocking activity of a partially or slowly reversible nature. The block appears to be exerted at the postjunctional end-plate nicotine receptors, thus offering promise for the identification of novel cholinergic receptor antagonist(s).
authors.affiliation: IDP Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, Powai, Mumbai.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manchanda
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karunakaran
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkateswarlu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007194:India; D038143:Inula; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011894:Rana pipiens; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009388:Neostigmine