title: Pharmacological basis for the use of Fumaria indica in constipation and diarrhea.
abstract: The crude extract of Fumaria indica whole plant (Fi.Cr) and its fractions were studied in vitro for spasmogenic and spasmolytic effects to rationalize some of the traditional uses. Fi.Cr (1.0-5.0 mg/mL) caused a moderate degree of atropine-sensitive spasmogenic effect in guinea-pig ileum. In spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum, Fi.Cr (0.03-0.3 mg/mL) caused a mild spasmogenicity followed by relaxation at the higher doses. In the atropinized preparations, Fi.Cr inhibited spontaneous and K(+)-induced contractions at the similar doses (0.1-1.0 mg/mL), which suggests calcium channel blockade (CCB). CCB effect was confirmed when pretreatment of the tissue with the Fi.Cr produced a dose-dependent shift in the Ca(2+) dose-response curves to the right, similar to that produced by verapamil. Activity-directed fractionation revealed that the spasmolytic effect is concentrated in the petroleum ether fraction, while dichloromethane fraction contains both spasmogenic and spasmolytic constituents. These data indicate that the presence of cholinergic and CCB constituents in Fi.Cr may explain the respective traditional use of Fumaria indica in constipation and diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu
authors.forename: Anwar H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
authors.forename: Samra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: Khalid H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Janbaz
authors.forename: Arifullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031312:Fumaria; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D010936:Plant Extracts