Mechanisms Underlying the Tracheorelaxant Effect of Vitex agnus-castus Extract

Thaçi, Shpëtim; Krasniqi, Berat; Cela, Dorisa; Dërmaku-Sopjani, Miribane; Bahtiri, Elton; Abazi, Sokol; Sopjani, Mentor

doi:10.1007/s43450-020-00009-5

Cited by 6 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results are entirely consistent with the findings of the previous study reporting the SRE vasorelaxant effect [11]. Nonspecific * * * * * * * * [13]. e NO/cGMP pathway induces smooth muscle relaxation through multiple mechanisms [28].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Nonspecific inhibition of both CCh and high K + by the SR extract indicates that nonspecific tracheorelaxant function, apparently, at least partly is accomplished by calcium channel blockade mechanisms. Similar tracheorelaxant effect was reported in our recent research, but for another medicinal plant species, Vitex agnus-castus [ 13 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The rabbits were sacrificed following a blow on back of the head and dissected to extract the trachea for in vitro experiments with isolated tissues. The trachea was carefully cleaned of surrounding connective tissue while holding in the Krebs–Henseleit solution (KHS) [ 13 ]. The trachea was cut into small segments (2–3 mm) with 2 cartilage rings, each mounted between two stainless steel hooks within thermostatically controlled (37°C) organ baths.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously reported a new tracheorelaxant effect of another medicinal plant, Vitex agnus-castus [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously reported a new tracheorelaxant effect of another medicinal plant, Vitex agnus-castus [ 13 ]. There are no prior studies that have revealed the mechanism of tracheorelaxant activity of S. raeseri .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Insight into the Mechanisms Underlying the Tracheorelaxant Properties of the Sideritis raeseri Extract

Krasniqi

Thaçi

Dërmaku-Sopjani

et al. 2020

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sideritis raeseri Boiss. and Heldr. (Lamiaceae), known as “mountain tea,” is a native plant from the Mediterranean region, which is widely used in traditional medicine. This study evaluates the effects of the ethanol extract of Sideritis raeseri (SR) on airway smooth muscle activity and identifies the underlying mechanism. The S. raeseri extract (SRE) was extracted from air-dried parts of the shoot system of SR. The SRE (0.3–2 mg/mL) was tested in isolated rabbit tracheal rings, suspended in the organ bath, filled with Krebs solution, and bubbled with the carbogen mixture (95% O2/5% CO2) under a resting tension of 1 g in 37°C. In in vitro experiments, the SRE relaxed against acetylcholine-induced constriction in tracheal rings. Furthermore, SRE inhibited Ca2+-induced contractions in carbachol (CCh, 1 μM) as well as in the K+-depolarized trachea (80 mM). Our findings showed the NO/cGMP involvement in tracheorelaxant effects of SR. To this end, the effect of the SRE was potentiated by bradykinin (nitric oxide (NO) synthase activator, 100 nM), whereas it was inhibited by ODQ (inhibitor of NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase, 10 μM) and L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor, 100 μM), as well as indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 10 μM). These data suggest that the tracheorelaxant effect of the SRE is mediated at least partly by NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate and cyclooxygenase-1-prostaglandin E2-dependent signaling. These findings indicate that the SRE may be used in various respiratory disorders.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously reported a new tracheorelaxant effect of another medicinal plant, Vitex agnus-castus [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Insight into the Mechanisms Underlying the Tracheorelaxant Properties of the Sideritis raeseri Extract

Krasniqi

Thaçi

Dërmaku-Sopjani

et al. 2020

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Gastroprotective effects and metabolomic profiling of Chasteberry fruits against indomethacin-induced gastric injury in rats

Ogaly

Alsherbiny

Badawy

et al. 2021

Journal of Functional Foods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Vasorelaxant Effects of the Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract

Thaçi

Krasniqi

Dërmaku-Sopjani

et al. 2022

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study was undertaken to describe and characterize the relaxing effects of the medicinal plant Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) extract on isolated rabbit arterial rings. The VAC extracts (VACE) were extracted with ethanol and tested in aorta rings (3-4 mm) of rabbits suspended in an organ bath (Krebs, 37°C, 95% O2/5% CO2) under a resting tension of 1 g to record isometric contractions. After the stabilization period (1-2 hours), contractions were induced by the addition of phenylephrine (0.5 μM) or high KCl (80 mM) and VACE was added on the plateau of the contractions. Experiments were performed to determine the effects and to get insights into the potential mechanism involved in VACE-induced relaxations. The cumulative addition of VACE (0.15–0.75 mg/mL) relaxed, in a concentration-dependent manner, the rabbit aorta rings precontracted either with phenylephrine- or with high KCl thus suggesting calcium channel blocking activities. The VACE effect appeared to be endothelium-dependent. The preincubation with L-NAME (the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases (NOS)), ODQ (the selective inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase), and indomethacin (the cyclooxygenase inhibitor), downregulated VACE-induced relaxation of aorta rings precontracted with phenylephrine, whereas the bradykinin (stimulator of NOS) and zaprinast (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) further upregulated relaxant effects induced by VACE. These results revealed that the aorta relaxation effect of VACE was mainly endothelium-dependent and mediated by NO/cGMP and prostaglandins synthesis. This vasodilator effect of VACE may be useful to treat cardiovascular disorders, including hypertensive diseases.

show abstract

Mechanisms Underlying the Tracheorelaxant Effect of Vitex agnus-castus Extract

Cited by 6 publications

References 29 publications

Insight into the Mechanisms Underlying the Tracheorelaxant Properties of the Sideritis raeseri Extract

Insight into the Mechanisms Underlying the Tracheorelaxant Properties of the Sideritis raeseri Extract

Gastroprotective effects and metabolomic profiling of Chasteberry fruits against indomethacin-induced gastric injury in rats

Vasorelaxant Effects of the Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About