title: Stimulatory effect of Crocus sativus (saffron) on beta2-adrenoceptors of guinea pig tracheal chains.
abstract: To study the mechanism(s) of the relaxant effects of Crocus sativus (Iridaceae), the stimulatory effect of aqueous-ethanolic extracts of this plant and one of its constituent, safranal was examined on beta-adrenoceptors in tracheal chains of guinea pigs. The beta(2)-adrenergic stimulatory was tested by performing the cumulative concentration-response curves of isoprenaline-induced relaxation of pre-contracted isolated guinea pig tracheal chains. The studied solutions were included two concentrations of aqueous-ethanolic extract from Crocus sativus (0.1 and 0.2g%), safranal (1.25 and 2.5 microg), 10nM propranolol, and saline. The study was done in two different conditions including: non-incubated (group 1, n=9) and incubated tissues with 1 microM chlorpheniramine (group 2, n=6). The results showed clear leftward shifts in isoprenaline curves obtained in the presence of only higher concentration of the extract in group 1 and its both concentrations in group 2 compared with that of saline. The EC(50) (the effective concentration of isoprenaline, causing 50% of maximum response) obtained in the presence of both concentrations of the extract (0.17+/-0.06 and 0.12+/-0.02) and safranal (0.22+/-0.05 and 0.22+/-0.05) in group 1 and only in the presence of two concentrations of the extract (1.16+/-0.31 and 0.68+/-0.21) in group 2 was significantly lower compared to saline (1.00+/-0.22 and 4.06+/-1.04 for groups 1 and 2, respectively) (p<0.05-0.001). The maximum responses obtained in the presence of both concentrations of the extract and safranal in group 1 were significantly lower than that of saline (p<0.005 for all cases). All values (CR-1=(EC(50) obtained in the presence of active substances/EC(50), obtained in the presence of saline)-1) obtained in the presence of higher concentrations of extract in group 1, its both concentrations and higher concentration of safranal in group 2 were negative and there were significant differences in this value between propranolol and those obtained in the presence of extract and safranal (p<0.05 to p<0.001). The results indicated a relatively potent stimulatory effect of the extract from Crocus sativus on beta(2)-adrenoceptors which is partially due to its constituent, safranal. A possible inhibitory effect of the plant on histamine (H(1)) receptors was also suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Research Centre of Medicinal Plants, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Khorassan 91735, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nemati
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadef Vostakolaei
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000187:drug effects*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D013729:Terpenes; C087963:safranal; D007545:Isoproterenol