title: Methanol extract of Terminalia superba induces endothelium-independent relaxation of rat thoracic aorta.
abstract: Terminalia superba is highly regarded in some parts of Cameroon in traditional medical practice. We have studied the vasorelaxant effects of the stem bark methanol extract of T. superba on rat vascular smooth muscle. The results demonstrated that T. superba extract provoked a time-dependent relaxation of aortic rings precontracted with norepinephrine (10(-6) M). The vasorelaxant effect of the plant extract was not affected by endothelium removal or by pretreatment with indomethacin or N(W)-nitro-Larginine methyl ester (L-NAME). T. superba extract did not significantly, affect the contraction induced by 30 mM or 60 mM KCl as compared to those induced by NE. Relaxations elicited by T. superba extract were markedly reduced by glibenclamide, a putative blocker for K(ATP) channels and by tetraethylammonium, the non-specific K+ channel inhibitor. T. superba caused a time- and concentration-dependent relaxation of the rat aortic rings that were inhibited by charybdotoxin and iberotoxin but not by apamin. These finding indicate that T. superba extract at least partially relaxes the rat aorta by activating K+ channels, mainly KATP channels and large-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channels in rat aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon. tdimo@uycdc.uninet.cm
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rakotonirina
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dongo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002163:Cameroon; D018999:Charybdotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents; D029766:Terminalia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010455:Peptides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D012997:Solvents; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C064719:iberiotoxin; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D007213:Indomethacin; D000432:Methanol