title: Validation of ethnopharmacological uses of Heliotropium strigosum Willd. as spasmolytic, bronchodilator and vasorelaxant remedy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heliotropium strigosum is used in traditional medicine to manage gastrointestinal pain, respiratory distress and vascular disorders. The present study was undertaken to provide scientific evidences for these folkloric uses by in vitro experimental settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A crude methanol extract of the Heliotropium strigosum (Hs.Cr) was tested in vitro on isolated rabbit jejunum preparations to detect the possible presence of spasmolytic activity. Moreover, isolated rabbit tracheal and aorta preparations were used to ascertain the relaxant effects of the extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Hs.Cr exhibited relaxant effects in rabbit jejunum in a concentration dependent manner (0.01-3.0 mg/ml). The Hs.Cr also relaxed K(+) (80 mM)-induced spastic contractions in rabbit jejunum and shifted the Ca(2+) concentration response curves towards right. The extract relaxed carbachol (1 μM)- as well as K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions in rabbit trachea at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 mg/ml. Moreover, Hs.Cr. also relaxed (0.01-3.0 mg/ml) the phenylephrine (1 μM)- and K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hs.Cr was found to exhibit spasmolytic, bronchodilator and vasorelaxant activities on isolated rabbit jejunum, trachea and aorta preparations, likely mediated through Ca(2+) channel blockade. This finding may provide a scientific basis for the folkloric uses of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. khjanbaz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Khalid H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Janbaz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. sana.javedbzu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. fatima2saqib@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saqib
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. imran.ch@bzu.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imran
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. ahirzia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zia-Ul-Haq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy. defeo@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Feo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002217:Carbachol; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D028162:Heliotropium; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010656:Phenylephrine; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine; D002217:Carbachol