title: The relaxant effect induced by Allium sativum L. bulb aqueous extract on rat isolated trachea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Garlic plays an important role in complementary and alternative medicine. Most people believe in and use herbal products even when they have not been as thoroughly researched as garlic. Garlic is also known for its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relaxant effect of Allium sativum L. bulb aqueous extract (ASBAE) containing 0.06%-0.10% of allicin was studied on isolated smooth muscle of trachea of rats precontracted using acetylcholine (10(-5) M).
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that ASBAE induced a dose-dependent relaxation with recorded EC (50) values of 71.87 ± 5.90 µg/mL (n = 7). Pretreatments with mepyramine (10(-7) M), methysergide (10(-7) M), caffeine (10(-6) M), theophylline (10(-6) M), nifedipine (10(-6) M), and dipyridamole (10(-6) M) did not alter ASBAE concentration-response curves. In turn, concentration-response curves to ASBAE were significantly shifted toward right in the presence of aspirin (3.10(-3) M), indomethacin (10(-6) M), prazosin (10(-6) M), and propranolol (10(-7) M).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that the recorded relaxation results are due to the release of prostaglandins E (1) and E (2) consecutively to α- and β-adrenoreceptor stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tunisia Pharmaceutical Industries Company (SIPHAT), Fondouk Choucha-Radès, 2013 Ben Arous, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Badreddine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fehri
authors.forename: Mueen K K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aiache