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Presence of calcium antagonist activity explains the use of Syzygium samarangense in diarrhoea
Author(s) -
Ghayur M. N.,
Gilani A. H.,
Khan A.,
Amor E. C.,
Villaseñor I. M.,
Choudhary M. I.
Publication year - 2006
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.1801
Subject(s) - syzygium , antagonist , pharmacognosy , traditional medicine , jejunum , myrtaceae , biological activity , calcium , antispasmodic , chemistry , pharmacology , biology , botany , medicine , biochemistry , in vitro , receptor , organic chemistry
Syzygium samarangense (Family; Myrtaceae) or ‘makopa’, as it is commonly known, is native to Malaysia, some islands of Indonesia and to Far East in general. This study was undertaken to rationalize the use of this plant in hypermotility states of the gut. The hexane extract of S. samarangense (Ss.Hex) was found to dose‐dependently (10–3000 µg/mL) relax the spontaneously contracting isolated rabbit jejunum. When tested for a possible calcium channel blocking (CCB) activity, the extract (10–1000 µg/mL) relaxed the high K + ‐induced contractions and also decreased the Ca ++ dose‐response curves in a dose‐dependent manner (30–100 µg/mL), confirming the CCB activity. Four flavonoids isolated from the hexane extract were tested for a possible spasmolytic activity. All flavonoids, identified as: 2′‐hydroxy‐4′,6′‐dimethoxy‐3′‐methylchalcone (SS1), 2′,4′‐dihydroxy‐6′‐methoxy‐3′,5′‐dimethylchalcone (SS2), 2′,4′‐dihydroxy‐6′‐methoxy‐3′‐methylchalcone (SS3) and 7‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxy‐6,8‐dimethylflavanone (SS4), showed dose‐dependent (10–1000 µg/mL) spasmolytic activity with SS2 being the most potent. These results indicate that the presence of compounds with spasmolytic and calcium antagonist activity may be responsible for the medicinal use of the plant in diarrhoea. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.