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Cholinomimetic and calcium channel blocking activities of Carthamus oxycantha
Author(s) -
Gilani Anwar H.,
Bukhari Ishfaq A.,
Khan Rafeeq A.,
Khan Arifullah,
Ullah Farman,
Ahmad Viqar U.
Publication year - 2005
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/ptr.1727
Subject(s) - chemistry , atropine , verapamil , calcium channel , pharmacology , calcium , antagonist , guinea pig , endocrinology , biochemistry , medicine , receptor , organic chemistry
The crude extract of Carthamus oxycantha (Co.Cr) and its fractions were studied in vitro for their possible spasmogenic and spasmolytic activities. Co.Cr (0.03–10 mg/mL) caused an atropine sensitive spasmogenic effect in guinea‐pig ileum. In spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum preparations, Co.Cr caused a dose‐dependent (0.03–3.0 mg/mL) spasmogenic effect, followed by relaxation at the next higher doses of 5.0–10.0 mg/mL. In the presence of atropine, the spasmogenic effect was blocked and the relaxant effect was observed at lower doses (0.1–5.0 mg/mL), shifting the inhibitory dose‐response curves to the left. Co.Cr also inhibited K + (80 m m )‐induced contractions in atropinized preparations at similar doses, suggesting calcium channel blockade (CCB) activity. The CCB effect was further confirmed when pretreatment of the tissue with Co.Cr produced a dose‐dependent shift in the Ca ++ dose‐response curves to the right, similar to that caused by verapamil. Activity‐directed fractionation revealed that the spasmolytic effect was concentrated in organic fractions in the following order of potency: hexane > ethylacetate > chloroform, while the aqueous fraction exhibited spasmogenic and weak spasmolytic effects. These results indicate that Carthamus oxycantha contains a combination of spasmogenic (cholinergic) and spasmolytic (calcium antagonist) constituents. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.