title: Effects of methylene chloride/methanol leaf extract of Celtis durandii engler (Ulmaceae) on constriction of rat aorta.
abstract: Celtis durandii is a medicinal plant widely used in some part of Cameroon for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The vasorelaxant effects of the methylene chloride/methanol leaf extract of C. durandii were examined on isolated rat thoracic aorta. The relaxant effects of C. durandii on vascular preparation from rat aorta precontracted with KCl or norepinephrine was concentration dependent. This relaxing effect was significantly reduced with KCl-induced contraction following mechanical damage to the aortic endothelium. Relaxation elicited by C. durandii was not significantly affected by glibenclamide (10(-6) M), a selective inhibitor of K-ATP-dependent channels or tetraethylammonium (10(-6) M), a non selective K+ channel blocker. Indomethacin (10(-6) M) significantly inhibited relaxation induced by the plant extract. These findings indicate that the vasorelaxation effect of the methylene chloride/methanol leaf extract of C. durandii may be mediated at least in part by prostacyclin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, PO. Box 812 University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ntchapda
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Atchade
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Yewah
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ngassam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012997:Solvents; D034401:Ulmaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D009638:Norepinephrine; D000432:Methanol