Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Smooth Muscle Contraction Induced by Indigofera dendroides Leaf Extracts May Involve Calcium Mobilization via Potential Sensitive Channels

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2003

Journal Title

Phytotherapy Research

ISSN

0951-418X

Volume

17

Issue

7

First Page

792

Last Page

796

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1239

PubMed ID

12916079

Abstract

The contractile effects of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Indigofera dendroides (ID) were studied on the gastrointestinal motility in mice and isolated smooth muscle preparations obtained from rats and guinea pigs. The contractile effects of 10−6 M acetylcholine, 80 mM KCl and 1.6 mg/ml ID were measured on the rat ileal smooth muscle exposed to calcium-free buffer or physiological solution, to determine the calcium pools mobilized by extract for activation of contraction. Acute toxicity test (LD50) was also carried out in mice. The result showed that ID (0.05–3.2 mg/ml) produced a concentration-dependent contraction of the guinea pig and rat ileum. These responses were not blocked by mepyramine (2.49 × 10−9 M), verapamil (8.14 × 10−9 M), or pirenzepine (4.7 × 10−7 M), but were blocked completely by atropine (2.92 × 10−9 M). A signi.cant increase in propulsion of gastrointestinal motility was observed. Acetylcholine, KCl and ID produced contractions in Ca2+ free media. The phasic components of the contractile responses to Ach as well as the tonic component of K+ and ID-induced contractions were relatively resistant to short periods of calcium-free exposure. Ach, K+ and ID still caused contractions in the presence of verapamil. The data revealed that ID-induced contractions were not mediated by histaminergic receptors, calcium channels, M1 muscarinic receptors. It also suggests that Ach mobilize Ca from some tightly bound or intracellular pool, whereas high K+ and ID may mobilize Ca from some superficial or loosely-bound pool.

Keywords

Indigofera dendroides, muscarinic receptor, calcium pool, gastrointestinal smooth muscles

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