Pharmacological justification of use of Solena heterophylla Lour. in gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular disorders

Abstract

BackgroundSolena heterophylla Lour. has traditionally been used in the management of diseases pertaining to gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular system and present study was undertaken to validate its traditional uses.MethodsThe aqueous ethanolic extract of Solena heterophylla Lour (Sh.Cr) was tested in-vitro on isolated rabbit jejunum, tracheal and aorta preparations. The responses of tissues were recorded using isotonic transducers coupled with PowerLab data acquisition system.ResultsThe aqueous ethanolic extract of Solena heterophylla Lour (Sh.Cr) (0.03-1.0 mg/ml) on application to spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparation exerted relaxant effect through decrease in magnitude and frequency of contractions, caused relaxation of K+(80 mM)-induced contractions and shifted the Ca2+ concentration response curves toward right in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations in a manner similar to verapamil (a standard Ca2+ channel blocker), thus confirming its Ca2+ channel blocking activity. The Sh.Cr also caused relaxation of carbachol (1 μM)- and K+(80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit tracheal preparations in a manner comparable to dicyclomine.ConclusionsThe observed relaxant effect may be outcome of anti-muscarinic and Ca2+ channel blocking activities. The Sh.Cr (0.03-1.0 mg/ml) against phenyephrine (1 μM)- and K+(80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit aortic preparations exerted a relaxant effect, possibly through Ca2+ channel blocking activity. These findings provide a rationale for the folkloric uses of the plant in the management of ailments pertaining to gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular system.

Antispasmodic activity of <i>Symplocos paniculata</i> is mediated through opening of ATP-dependent K+ channel

“…The S. paniculata caused suppression of the spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations. The smooth muscle contractions are carried out through increase in intracellular Ca 2+ concentrations, which is responsible for demonstration of contractile responses (Karaki and Wiess, 1983) and the observed antispasmodic effect on the part of S. paniculata is likely to be mediated either through blockade of calcium channel(s) (Janbaz et al, 2015b) or through opening of K + channel. The S. paniculata was unable to relax the high K + (80 mM)-induced contractions and exhibited relaxation of the low K + (20 mM)-induced contractions.…”

“…In isolated rabbit jejunum preparation, sustained spastic contraction was produced subsequent to exposure of low K + (20 mM) or high K + (80 mM) tissue bath concentrations, on which test material was applied in cumulative manner to obtain the concentration dependent inhibitory response to elucidate the possible mechanism(s) of action. The extent of relaxation produced in isolated tissue preparation was expressed as percent of the observed contractile response subsequent to exposure to low and high K + tissue bath concentration (Janbaz et al, 2015b).…”

Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of <i>Viola odorata</i> in diarrhea, bronchial asthma and hypertension

“…Calcium channel blocking effect of the test substance was confirmed by the method described previously (Janbaz et al, 2015b). The isolated rabbit jejunum preparation was allowed to stabilize in normal Tyrode's solution, which was subsequently replaced for 30 min with Ca 2+ -free Tyrode's solution to which EDTA (0.1 mM) was added in order to remove calcium from the tissue.…”

“…On achievement of the superimposable control calcium dose-response curves (usually after two cycles), the tissues were then washed and allowed to equilibrated with the plant extract for 1 hour and then the concentration response curves of Ca 2+ were recorded and compared to the control curves. The dose-response curves of Ca 2+ were recorded in the presence of different concentrations of the plant extract in tissue bath (Janbaz et al, 2015b) …”

“…The V. odorata exerted relaxant effect on spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparation, i.e., exhibiting antispasmodic activity. Studies reported on plant materials reflected anti-spasmodic activity may possibly be mediated through blockade of Ca 2+ channels (Janbaz et al, 2015b). The contractile activities of smooth muscle preparations, i.e., isolated rabbit jejunum preparations is mediated through increase/ decrease of cytoplasmic free Ca 2+ concentration (Karaki et al, 1997).…”