title: Spasmolytic activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. involves calcium channels in the guinea pig ileum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a plant used around the world for its properties to cure pain in several conditions, such as arthritic and abdominal pain or as an antispasmodic; however, there are no scientific studies demonstrating its spasmolytic activity. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an ethanol extract from Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts and the possible mechanism involved by using rings from the isolated guinea pig ileum (IGPI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The IGPI rings were pre-contracted with potassium chloride (KCl; 60 mM), acetylcholine (ACh; 1 × 10(-9) to 1 × 10(-5)M) or electrical field stimulation (EFS; 0.3 Hz of frequency, 3.0 ms of duration and 14 V intensity) and tested in the presence of the Rosmarinus officinalis ethanol extract (150, 300, 600 and 1 200 μg/mL) or a referenced smooth muscle relaxant (papaverine, 30 μM). In addition, the possible mechanism of action was analyzed in the presence of hexametonium (a ganglionic blocker), indomethacine (an inhibitor of prostaglandins), l-NAME (a selective inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase) and nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rosmarinus officinalis ethanol extract exhibited a significant and concentration-dependent spasmolytic activity on the contractions induced by KCl (CI(50) = 661.06 ± 155.91 μg/mL); ACh (CI(50) = 464.05 ± 16.85 μg/mL) and EFS (CI(50) = 513.72 ± 34.13 μg/mL). Spasmolytic response of Rosmarinus officinalis (600 μg/mL) was reverted in the presence of nifedipine 1 μM, but not in the presence of hexamethonium 0.5mM, indomethacine 1 μM or L-NAME 100 μM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results reinforce the use of Rosmarinus officinalis as antispasmodic in folk medicine. Moreover, it is demonstrated the involvement of calcium channels in this activity, but not the participation of nicotinic receptors, prostaglandins or nitric oxide.
authors: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM Av Universidad 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CP 04510 México, DF, Mexico. rventuram7@hotmail.com
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Ventura-Martínez
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Rivero-Osorno
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Gómez
authors: María Eva
authors: ME
authors: González-Trujano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase