title: Spasmolytic effect of traditional herbal formulation on guinea pig ileum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The herbal formulation consisting of Andrographis paniculata Nees., Cassia fistula L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Cuminum cyminum L. is widely used by the local traditional practitioners in rural Northern Karnataka for spasmodic abdominal pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate safety and spasmolytic effect of poly-herbal formulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute toxicity studies were carried out in Swiss mice, as per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The spasmolytic activity of the formulation was studied in isolated guinea pig ileum model using histamine and acetylcholine as agonists. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnetts post-hoc test and P ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The formulation did not show any adverse toxic effects and found to be safe. It also showed significant (P < 0.05) relaxation in different agonist like histamine and acetylcholine-induced contractions in guinea pig ileum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antispasmodic activity of the herbal formulation can be attributed to its atropine-like activity. The present findings, therefore, support its utility in spasmodic abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants, Regional Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Dushyant
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants, Regional Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Kuntal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants, Regional Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants, USM-KLE, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants, Regional Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kholkute
keywords: Acetylcholine; histamine; spasmolytic activity; traditional formulation