Abstract
Vitex negundo has reputation in the traditional medicine in diarrhea and gut spasm. This study was carried out to provide possible pharmacological basis to its medicinal use in hyperactive gut disorders. In castor oil-induced diarrheal model, the crude extract of V. negundo , caused a dose-dependent protection (53-71%), similar to loperamide. In isolated rabbit jejunum preparation, V. negundo caused inhibition of spontaneous and high K + -induced contractions, with EC 50 values of 0.36 (0.22-0.61) and 1.30 mg/mL (0.27-5.89; n=4-5), respectively, suggestive of spasmolytic activity, mediated possibly through calcium channel blockade (CCB). The CCB activity was further confirmed when pre-treatment of the tissue with V. negundo (0.03-0.3 mg/mL) caused a rightward shift in the Ca ++ concentration-response curves (CRCs), similar to diltiazem or loperamide. These data indicate that the antidiarrheal and spasmolytic effects of the crude extract of V. negundo are mediated through the presence of CCB-like constituent(s). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjp.v8i3.15296 Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology Vol.8(3) 2013 317-322
Highlights
Vitex negundo Linn., belongs to the family “Verbenaceae” occurs in different parts of Pakistan, such as, Rawalpindi hills, Murree, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Lower hazara, Kurram, Swat, Poonch on the bank of streams and water courses (Baquar, 1989)
Based on the medicinal use of V. negundo in hyperactive gut disorders, such as diarrhea and spasm (Baquar, 1989; Evans, 2006; Shinwari, et al, 2003; Usmanghani, et al, 1997), its aqueous-methanolic crude extract was tested for the possible antidiarrheal effect in mice
When tested against the castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice, the crude extract of V. negundo (Vn.Cr), like loperamide, a standard antidiarrheal agent (Reynolds et al, 1984), significantly (p
Summary
Vitex negundo Linn., belongs to the family “Verbenaceae” occurs in different parts of Pakistan, such as, Rawalpindi hills, Murree, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Lower hazara, Kurram, Swat, Poonch on the bank of streams and water courses (Baquar, 1989). To assess whether the spasmolytic activity of the test substances was mediated through calcium channel blockade, high concentration of K+ (80 mM), as KCl, was used to depolarize the preparations (Farre et al, 1991).
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