Pharmacological justification of use of Solena heterophylla Lour. in gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular disorders.
BACKGROUND
Solena heterophylla Lour. has traditionally been used in the management of diseases pertaining to gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular system and present study was undertaken to validate its traditional uses.


METHODS
The aqueous ethanolic extract of Solena heterophylla Lour (Sh.Cr) was tested in-vitro on isolated rabbit jejunum, tracheal and aorta preparations. The responses of tissues were recorded using isotonic transducers coupled with PowerLab data acquisition system.


RESULTS
The aqueous ethanolic extract of Solena heterophylla Lour (Sh.Cr) (0.03-1.0 mg/ml) on application to spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparation exerted relaxant effect through decrease in magnitude and frequency of contractions, caused relaxation of K(+)(80 mM)-induced contractions and shifted the Ca(2+) concentration response curves toward right in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations in a manner similar to verapamil (a standard Ca(2+) channel blocker), thus confirming its Ca(2+) channel blocking activity. The Sh.Cr also caused relaxation of carbachol (1 μM)- and K(+)(80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit tracheal preparations in a manner comparable to dicyclomine.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed relaxant effect may be outcome of anti-muscarinic and Ca(2+) channel blocking activities. The Sh.Cr (0.03-1.0 mg/ml) against phenyephrine (1 μM)- and K(+)(80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit aortic preparations exerted a relaxant effect, possibly through Ca(2+) channel blocking activity. These findings provide a rationale for the folkloric uses of the plant in the management of ailments pertaining to gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular system.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. khjanbaz@hotmail.com.
Khalid Hussain
KH
Janbaz
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. pharmacistgenius@yahoo.com.
Tashfeen
T
Akhtar
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. fatima2saqib@yahoo.com.
Fatima
F
Saqib
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. imran.ch@bzu.edu.pk.
Imran
I
Imran
Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization, Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan. ahirzia@gmail.com.|Department of Environmental Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan. ahirzia@gmail.com.
Muhammad
M
Zia-Ul-Haq
Faculty of Traditional Thai Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, 90112, Thailand. chaweewan.j@psu.ac.th.
Chaweeewan
C
Jansakul
Department of Pharmacy, Salerno University, Fisciano, Italy. defeo@unisa.it.
Vincenzo
V
De Feo
Department of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania. moga.og@gmail.com.
Marius
M
Moga
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002217:Carbachol; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002217:Carbachol