A mechanistic evaluation of the traditional uses of Nepeta ruderalis in gastrointestinal and airway disorders

Abstract

Context:Nepeta ruderalis Buch.-Ham. (Lamiaceae), locally known as Badranj Boya, is an aromatic herb used traditionally as an antispasmodic, antidiarrhoeal, and anti-asthamatic remedy.Objective: Aqueous methanolic extract of N. ruderalis was studied to investigate its traditional uses.Materials and methods: Study was conducted from September 2015 to February 2016. In vitro spasmolytic and broncho-relaxant activity of crude extract of N. ruderalis (whole plant) was evaluated at 0.01–10 mg/mL final bath concentration in isolated rabbit jejunum and tracheal tissues, using PowerLab data acquisition system (Transonic Systems Inc., Ithaca, NY). In vivo antidiarrhoeal activity was evaluated in castor oil-induced diarrhoeal mice at the dose of 300 and 500 mg of crude extract orally.Results: Crude extract of N. ruderalis completely relaxed spontaneously contracting, high K+ (80 mM) and carbachol (1 μM) induced contracted jejunum with an EC50 value of 5.85 (5.45–6.27), 4.0 (3.80–4.23) and 2.86 (2.48–3.29), similar to verapamil. Nr.Cr relaxed high K+ and carbachol induced contractions, at 5 and 10 mg/mL with an EC50 value of 2.37 (2.11–2.67) and 3.26 (2.9–3.67), respectively, and also displaced calcium concentration–response curves toward right at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/mL. Nr.Cr exhibited antidiarrhoeal protection at a dose of 300 and 500 mg/kg, similar to verapamil, whereas no acute toxicity signs were seen up to 5 g/kg in healthy mice.Discussion and conclusion: Results suggest the presence of spasmolytic and broncho-relaxant effects in the crude extract of N. ruderalis, possibly mediated through calcium channel-blocking activity, providing the pharmacological basis for its traditional uses in gastrointestinal and airway disorders.

Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Nepeta asterotricha Rech. f. (Lamiaceae): Isolation of Nepetamoside

“…Decoctions and infusions from the aerial parts of Nepeta species have been used in traditional and folk medicines as antioxidant, anticonvulsant, tonic, antipyretic, antitussive, sedative, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory medicines [4,5]. Some of these therapeutic actions were recently comprehensively reviewed [6] and received a modern pharmacological validation [7,8,9].…”

Antidiarrheal Activity of Ethanol Extract of Ophioglossum Vulgatum In Mice And Spasmolytic Effect on Smooth Muscle Contraction of Isolated Jejunum In Rabbits

“…The above conclusions demonstrate the safety of EWOV and provide necessary theoretical basis for subsequent experiments. Castor oil is from castor seed and is a kind of effective laxative, which can reduce the absorption of small intestine and increase the secretion of it [24]. The active ingredient of castor oil inducing diarrhea is ricinoleic acid, which produces irritating and in ammatory actions on the intestinal mucosa and leads to the release of prostaglandins [25].…”

Pharmacological and chemical features of Nepeta L. genus: Its importance as a therapeutic agent

“…N. flavida and N. sintenisii revealed antioxidant capacity in two previous in vitro studies (Shakeri et al, ; Tepe et al, ). Anticonvulsant and myorelaxant activity researches on N. sibthorpii , N. cataria , and N. ruderalis have shown that these three species possess anticonvulsant and myorelaxant effects (Galati et al, ; Gilani et al, ; Mahmood et al, ). N. menthoides attenuated the development of morphine dependence and potentiated morphine analgesia (Rahmati & Beik, ).…”

“…Mice did not show acute toxicity at doses up to 5 g/kg. Broncho-relaxant and spasmolytic effects were mediated by calcium channel blocking activity caused by rightward displacement of higher concentrations of concentration-response curves of calcium(Mahmood, Chaudhry, Masood, Saeed, & Adnan, 2017).…”