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Terminalia arjuna , an ayurvedic cardiotonic, increases contractile force of rat isolated atria
Author(s) -
Radhakrishnan R.,
Wadsworth R. M.,
Gray A. I.
Publication year - 1993
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.2650070314
Subject(s) - terminalia arjuna , combretaceae , petroleum ether , chloroform , inotrope , traditional medicine , ethanol , chemistry , pharmacology , tectona , medicine , terminalia , biology , chromatography , biochemistry , botany , extraction (chemistry)
The direct effects of aqueous, ethanolic, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of Terminalia arjuna (family: Combretaceae) bark, an ayurvedic remedy for cardiovascular disorders, were studied on isolated atria of rats. The aqueous extract produced a substantial positive inotropic effect (EC 50 = 0.25 mg/mL) but no change in the rate. The ethanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts all decreased the rate of contraction. A slight increase in force was seen with ethanol and chloroform extracts. Higher concentrations of the chloroform extract had a negative inotropic effect. The ethanol extract decreased the maximum following frequency of the left atria. It is concluded that Terminalia arjuna has a significant positive inotropic property on rat atria in vitro which could contribute to its efficacy in treating cardiovascular disorders.