Antispasmodic and hypotensive effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract.
The effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract on the contractile responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum induced by acetylcholine, histamine and KCl, and on the mean arterial blood pressure of rat were investigated. In the presence of extract (3 mg/ml), the average amplitude of spontaneous contractions of the isolated guinea-pig ileum was decreased to 54 +/- 7% of control. Exposure of the precontracted ileum by acetylcholine (10 microM) to Ferula asafoetida gum extract caused relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. Similar relaxatory effect of the extract was observed on the precontracted ileum by histamine (10 microM) and KCl (28 mM). However, when the preparations were preincubated with indomethacin (100 nM) and different antagonists, such as propranolol (1 microM), atropine (100 nM), chlorpheniramine (25 nM) then were contracted with KCl, exposure to the extract (3 mg/ml) did not cause any relaxation. Furthermore, Ferula asafoetida gum extract (0.3-2.2 mg/100g body weight) significantly reduced the mean arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised rats. It might be concluded that the relaxant compounds in Ferula asafoetida gum extract interfere with a variety of muscarinic, adrenergic and histaminic receptor activities or with the mobilisation of calcium ions required for smooth muscle contraction non-specificly.
Fatehi
Mohammad
M
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 91775-1843, Mashhad, Iran.
Farifteh
Freshteh
F
Fatehi-Hassanabad
Zahra
Z
D000109:Acetylcholine; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005309:Ferula; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011189:Potassium Chloride
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D006632:Histamine; D000109:Acetylcholine