title: Pharmacological basis for medicinal use of Lens culinaris in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders.
abstract: Crude extract of Lens culinaris (Lc.Cr), which tested positive for presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, sterol, tannins, and terpenes exhibited protective effect against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice at 100-1000 mg/kg. In rabbit jejunum preparations, Lc.Cr caused relaxation of spontaneous contractions at 0.03-5.0 mg/mL. Lc.Cr inhibited carbachol (CCh, 1 μM) and K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions in a pattern similar to dicyclomine, but different from verapamil and atropine. Lc.Cr shifted the Ca(++) concentration-response curves to the right, like dicyclomine and verapamil. Pretreatment of tissues with Lc.Cr (0.03-0.1 mg/mL) caused leftward shift of isoprenaline-induced inhibitory CRCs, similar to papaverine. In guinea-pig ileum, Lc.Cr produced rightward parallel shift of CCh curves, followed by non-parallel shift at higher concentration with suppression of maximum response, similar to dicyclomine, but different from verapamil and atropine. Lc.Cr (3.0-30 mg/kg) caused suppression of carbachol (CCh, 100 µg/kg)-induced increase in inspiratory pressure of anesthetized rats. In guinea-pig trachea, Lc.Cr relaxed CCh and high K(+) -induced contractions, shifted CCh curves to right and potentiated isoprenaline response. These results suggest that L. culinaris possesses antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, and bronchodilator activities mediated possibly through a combination of Ca(++) antagonist, anticholinergic, and phosphodiesterase inhibitory effects, and this study provides sound mechanistic background to its medicinal use in disorders of gut and airways hyperactivity, like diarrhea and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Unit, Department of Biological and Biomedical, Sciences, Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir (L), Pakistan.
authors.forename: Munasib
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Arif-ullah
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.lastname: Najeeb-ur-Rehman
authors.forename: Anwarul-Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D027806:Lens Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ca++ channel blocker; Lens culinaris; antimuscarinic; gut and airways diseases; phosphodiesterase inhibitor