Inhibitory effect of hydroalcoholic and flavonoids extracts of Dracocephalum kotschyi, and its components luteolin, apigenin and apigenin-4’-galactoside on intestinal transit in mice

Abstract

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:This paper provides pharmacological evidence for antimotility of apigenin and luteolin two component of Dracocephalum kotschyi in vivo. In addition it was revealed that inactive apigenin-4'-galactoside in the gastrointestinal tract is converted to active apigenin.Please cite this paper as: Sadraei H, Ghanadian SM, Moazeni S. Inhibitory effect of hydroalcoholic and flavonoids extracts of Dracocephalum kotschyi, and its components luteolin, apigenin and apigenin-4'-galactoside on intestinal transit in mice. J Introduction: Dracocephalum kotschyi is an Iranian indigenous herbal plant which has been reported to have antispasmodic activity in vitro. The antispasmodic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of D. kotschyi is reported to be due to its flavonoids constituents including apigenin and luteolin. The objective of this research was to compare antispasmodic activities of hydroalcoholic and flavonoids extracts of D. kotschyi on ileum contractions in vivo. In addition, spasmolytic activity of apigenin, luteolin and apigenin-4'-galactoside were compared. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract was prepared by percolation method. Flavonoids extract was obtained by solvent-solvent extraction. Antispasmodic effect of the test compounds was assessed by measurement of percent small intestine transit following oral administration of a charcoal meal and compared with control group and standard drug loperamide. Results: Biochemical assessment of flavonoids content of the extracts showed that ethyl-acetate fraction contained higher quantity of flavonoids. Loperamide (2.5 mg/kg) reduced charcoal meal movement by 58% in comparison to control group. Hydroalcoholic extract of D. kotschyi (20 mg/kg) and its ethyl-acetate fraction (20 mg/kg) reduced the intestinal charcoal meal transit by 32% and 90%, respectively. Apigenin, luteolin and apigenen-4'-galactoside with oral dose of 20 mg/kg inhibited intestinal movement of the charcoal meal 93%, 89% and 45%, respectively in comparison with the vehicle treated control groups. Conclusion: This study confirms that both the hydroalcoholic and flavonoids extracts of D. kotschyi have antispasmodic properties in vivo. Antimotility of apigenen-4'-galactoside in mice is probably due to release of apigenin in the gastrointestinal tract.

Effect of Matricaria chamomilla hydro-alcoholic and flavonoids rich extracts on rat isolated uterus

“…For preparation of flavonoids rich extract, solvent in solvent partitioning technique was employed (22). For this purpose, 50 g of concentrated hydro-alcoholic extract was added into decanter filled with one liter of chloroform and water (1:1).…”

“…All the fractions were concentrated on the rotary evaporator at 60˚C for pharmacological studies. Flavonoids contents of separated fractions were assessed by aluminum chloride colorimetric method as described before (22). Ethyl acetate fraction possessed highest contents of flavonoids and therefore considered as flavonoids rich fraction.…”

Bronchodilator effect of apigenin and luteolin, two components of Dracocephalum kotschyi on isolated rabbit trachea

“…The chloroform fraction was decanted and the process repeated by addition equal volume of fresh chloroform. Flavonoids contents of separated fractions were assessed by aluminum chloride colorimetric method as described before (15). Ethylacetate fraction possessed highest contents of flavonoids and therefore considered as flavonoids rich fraction for this study.…”

“…Although, asthma is an inflammatory disease of airways, however, bronchoconstriction also plays a significant role in breathless of asthmatic patients. As mentioned above, D. kotschyi extract as well as apigenin and luteolin have relatively potent antispasmodic activities on isolated ileum and uterus smooth muscles (9,10,14,15). Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate bronchodilatory effect of D. kotschyi extract for comparison for luteolin and apigenin.…”

“…Nevertheless, D. kotschyi is enriched in many bioactive constituents with wide range of pharmacological properties (11)(12)(13). Antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects of D. kotschyi extract are attributed to its flavonoids constituents including apigenin and luteolin (14,15).…”