title: Inhibitory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a plant-derived polyphenolic compound, on rat intestinal contractility.
abstract: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) exerts pharmacological actions (e.g. anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive) which are relevant for potential clinical application in the digestive tract. However, no study has been published on its possible effects on intestinal motility, to date. In the present study, we investigated the effect of this plant-derived polyphenolic compound on the spontaneous contractions of the rat isolated ileum. CAPE reduced (in a tetrodotoxin-insensitive manner) spontaneous ileal contractions and this effect was reduced by the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine and the chelant of calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. However, the effect of CAPE was not modified by a number of inhibitors/antagonists such as of phentolamine plus propranolol, atropine, tetrodotoxin, cyclopiazonic acid, omega-conotoxin, apamin, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one or a combination of SR 140333, SR48968 and SR142801. In conclusion our study shows that (i) CAPE relaxed myogenic contractions of rat ileum and that (ii) this effect occurs, at least in part, throughout a mechanism involving L-type Ca2+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aviello
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scalisi
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fileccia
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol