title: Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Zanthoxylum armatum in gut, airways and cardiovascular disorders.
abstract: This study describes the gut, airways and cardiovascular modulatory activities of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (Rutaceae) to rationalize some of its medicinal uses. The crude extract of Zanthoxylum armatum (Za.Cr) caused concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous and high K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum, being more effective against K(+) and suggestive of Ca(++) antagonist effect, which was confirmed when pretreatment of the tissues with Za.Cr shifted Ca(++) concentration-response curves to the right, like that caused by verapamil. Za.Cr inhibited the castor-oil-induced diarrhea in mice at 300-1000 mg/kg. In rabbit tracheal preparations, Za.Cr relaxed the carbachol (1 microM) and high K(+)-induced contractions, in a pattern similar to that of verapamil. In isolated rabbit aortic rings, Za.Cr exhibited vasodilator effect against phenylephrine (1 microM) and K(+)-induced contractions. When tested in guinea pig atria, Za.Cr caused inhibition of both atrial force and rate of spontaneous contractions, like that caused by verapamil. These results indicate that Zanthoxylum armatum exhibits spasmolytic effects, mediated possibly through Ca(++) antagonist mechanism, which provides pharmacological base for its medicinal use in the gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Research Division, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Naeemuddin
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gilani
authors.forename: Arif-Ullah
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Anwarul Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000032:analysis*; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D002368:Castor Oil; D002400:Cathartics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000032:analysis*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D032106:Zanthoxylum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D002400:Cathartics; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002368:Castor Oil