title: Gastrointestinal stimulant effect of Urginea indica Kunth. and involvement of muscarinic receptors.
abstract: Urginea indica Kunth. (Family; Liliaceae) was studied for its gastrointestinal stimulant effect to rationalize the traditional medicinal uses as a digestive aid, stomachic and laxative. The crude aqueous-methanol extract of Urginea indica bulb (Ui.Cr) was tested on mice and isolated gut preparations. Ui.Cr, which was tested positive for alkaloids, tannins and coumarins, increased faecal output and accelerated charcoal meal transit in mice (6-12 mg/kg, p.o.), similar to that caused by carbachol (10 mg/kg). Ui.Cr (0.01-1 mg/mL) caused a spasmogenic effect in guinea-pig ileum that was reproduced in rabbit jejunum (0.01-0.3 mg/mL) followed by relaxation at a higher concentration. Like carbachol, the stimulant effect of Ui.Cr was blocked by atropine, suggesting the activation of muscarinic receptors mediating the prokinetic effect. Ui.Cr (0.01-5.0 mg/mL) also inhibited K(+) (80 mm)-induced contraction in rabbit jejunum and shifted the Ca(2+) concentration-response curves to the right, similar to verapamil, a standard calcium channel blocker. These data, indicating the presence of a gastrointestinal stimulant effect in Urginea indica possibly mediated through a cholinergic mechanism, provide a rationale for the use of Urginea indica in indigestion and constipation. The presence of a calcium antagonist effect in the plant may help to alleviate untoward effects of the plant that may result from an excessive increase in gut motility.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
authors: Saima
authors: S
authors: Abbas
authors: Samra
authors: S
authors: Bashir
authors: Aslam
authors: A
authors: Khan
authors: Malik Hassan
authors: MH
authors: Mehmood
authors: Anwarul Hassan
authors: AH
authors: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy; D003374:Coumarins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D031448:Drimia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D054368:Laxatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects*; D013634:Tannins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D003374:Coumarins; D054368:Laxatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D013634:Tannins; D001285:Atropine