title: Presence of antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, antisecretory, calcium antagonist and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory steroidal alkaloids in Sarcococca saligna.
abstract: The aim of this investigation was to see if the crude extract of Sarcococca saligna (Ss.Cr) contains chemicals with gut function inhibitory activity by using in vitro and in vivo assays. Ss.Cr caused a dose-dependent (0.03 - 3 mg/mL) inhibitory effect on K+-induced contractions in rat stomach fundus, guinea-pig ileum and rabbit jejunum preparations. The calcium channel blocking(CCB) activity was confirmed when Ss.Cr caused a rightward shift in the Ca++ dose-response curves. It also potentiated, at lower do-ses (0.001 - 0.03 mg/mL), the contractile effect of a fixed dose of acetylcholine (ACh), similar to physostigmine, and suppressed the effect of ACh at higher doses (0.3 - 1.0 mg/mL). Both Ss.Cr and physostigmine inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE), in the in vitro assay, confirming the AChE inhibitory activity. In the in vivo studies, Ss.Cr exhibited antidiarrheal and antisecretory activities against castor oil-induced diarrhea and intestinal fluid accumulation in mice. Characteristic steroidal compounds of the plant (saracocine, saracodine, saracorine and alkaloid-C), exhibited a similar combination of AChE inhibitory and CCB activities. Thus this study provides a sound mechanistic base for some of the traditional uses of the plant in hyperactive gut states, in addition to providing the first evidence for verapamil to possess additional AChE inhibitory activity. Furthermore, these characteristic compounds with dual activity may be good candidates for further studies on their usefulness in Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu
authors.forename: Anwar-ul Hassan
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Giliani
authors.forename: Mohammad Nabeel
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ghayur
authors.forename: Asaad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.lastname: Zaheer-ul-Haq
authors.forename: Muhammad Iqbal
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.lastname: Atta-ur-Rahman
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031234:Buxaceae; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002118:Calcium