Interactions between erythromycin, flunixin meglumine, levamisole and plant secondary metabolites towards bovine gastrointestinal motility—in vitro study

Abstract

Continued ingestion of plant secondary metabolites by ruminants can provoke pharmacological interactions with pharmaceutical agents used in animals. As some drugs and phytocompounds affect smooth muscle activity, the aim of this study was to verify the possible interaction between selected pharmaceutical agents and plant secondary metabolites towards bovine gastrointestinal motility. The interactions between phytocompounds-apigenin, quercetin, hederagenin, medicagenic acid-and medicines-erythromycin, flunixin meglumine and levamisole-were evaluated on bovine isolated abomasal and duodenal specimens obtained from routinely slaughtered cows. The obtained results confirmed the contractile effect of all three drugs used solely. Hederagenin and medicagenic acid (0.001 μM) enhanced the contractile effect of levamisole. Hederagenin additionally increased the impact of erythromycin. Both saponins (100 μM) showed synergistic effects with all tested pharmaceuticals. Apigenin and quercetin (0.001 μM) intensified the contractile response induced by erythromycin and levamisole. Moreover, both flavonoids (100 μM) showed an antagonistic interaction with all tested drugs which in that situation were devoid of the prokinetic effect. To conclude, plant metabolic metabolites such as saponins and flavonoids are potent modifiers of the effect of drugs towards gut motility. The synergy observed between phytocompounds and selected medicines can be beneficial in the treatment of cows with hypomotility disorders.

The influence of a simulated digest of an equine dietary feed additive G's formula on contractile activity of gastric smooth muscle in vitro

“…Although individual bioactive compounds may be present in this supplement their interactions cannot reliably be predicted. Mendel, Chłopecka, Dziekan, and Karlik (2018) demonstrated that certain plant secondary metabolites could enhance the action of prokinetic drugs in isolated bovine abomasal and duodenal smooth muscle. However, these effects were dose‐dependent and the flavonoids tested, quercetin and apigenin, abolished the contractile properties of all the prokinetic drugs at concentrations of 100 µM.…”