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Molecular evidence for phytopharmacological K + channel opening by garlic in human vascular smooth muscle cell membranes
Author(s) -
Siegel G.,
Nuck R.,
Schnalke F.,
Michel F.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(1998)12:1+<s149::aid-ptr279>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - membrane , vascular smooth muscle , pharmacognosy , smooth muscle , myocyte , chemistry , anatomy , biology , medicine , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biological activity , in vitro
The electrophysiological correlation to vasodilatation in human coronary arteries was measured under the influence of garlic extract. Between 0.0002 and 0.2 g powder/L extract concentration, garlic ( Allium sativum ) hyperpolarized the membrane of normal vascular smooth muscle cells of the human coronary artery in a concentration‐dependent manner. Correspondingly, the isometric wall tension was decreased. For the garlic constituents allicin and ajoene, a similar course in membrane potential and wall tension for aqueous solutions between 10 −9 and 10 −6 mol/L was obtained. These compounds hyperpolarized the cell membrane and relaxed the vascular strips concentration‐dependently. The hyperpolarization in vascular smooth muscle supports the concept of garlic extract and its compounds being classified as phytopharmacological K + channel openers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.