title: Studies on vasoconstrictor activity of Curculigo pilosa extracts and of its isolated compounds.
abstract: The Curculigo pilosa total extract, its butanolic fraction (0.5 microg-100 mg/kg) and the most active in vitro compound structurally similar to adrenaline, pilosidine (10 ng-l mg/kg), caused a reversible and dose-dependent increase in blood pressure in anaesthetized rat. This hypertensive effect is partially reversed (90%) by the prior administration of phentolamine (1 mg/kg) and abolished by pre-treatment with phentolamine (1 mg/kg) and atenolol (100 microg/kg). Neither tachiphylaxis nor any toxic effects were observed. These experimental findings suggest an interaction between C. pilosa and the peripheral adrenergic system (particularly with alpha1 and beta1 receptors); the structure of the bioactive glucosides could be important in evoking this effect.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacologia delle Sostanze Naturali e Fisiologia Generale, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. francesca.cometa@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cometa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galeffi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palmery
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents