title: Effects of Crocus sativus petals' extract on rat blood pressure and on responses induced by electrical field stimulation in the rat isolated vas deferens and guinea-pig ileum.
abstract: We have investigated the effects of Crocus sativus petals' extract on blood pressure in anaesthetised rats and also on responses of the isolated rat vas deferens and guinea-pig ileum induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS). Aqueous and ethanol extracts of C. sativus petals reduced the blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. For example administration of 50 mg/100 g of aqueous extract changed the blood pressure from 133.5+/-3.9 to 117+/-2.1 (mmHg). EFS of the isolated rat vas deferens and guinea-pig ileum evoked contractions were decreased by aqueous and ethanol extracts of C. sativus petals. The aqueous extract (560 mg/ml) significantly reduced the contractile responses of vas deferens to epinephrine (1 microM) without any change in contraction induced by KCl (300 mM). The present results may suggest that the relaxatory action of C. sativus petals' extract on contraction induced by EFS in the rat isolated vas deferens is a postsynaptic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 91775-1843, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatehi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rashidabady
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fatehi-Hassanabad
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D000431:Ethanol; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012997:Solvents; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol