Presence of acetylcholine-like substance(s) inSesamum indicum

Abstract

Alcoholic extract of seeds ofSesamum indicum (SI, 1–30 mg/kg) caused hypotensive action in anesthetized rats. Heart rate was also decreased at slightly higher doses (10–30 mg/kg). Pretreatment with atropine (2 mg/kg) abolished these cardiovascular responses. In isolated spontaneously beating atria from guinea-pigs, SI caused decrease in force and rate of atrial contractions. In isolated guinea-pig ileum and rat uterus, SI (100–1000 ug/ml) produced contractile responses. All these actions of SI were abolished in the presence of atropine (1 μM). These results indicate that alcoholic extract of seeds ofSesamum indicum contains acetylcholine-like constituents(s) which explains some of the folkloric uses of plant.