Inhibitory effects of Cistus populifolius on contractile responses in the isolated rat duodenum

J Ethnopharmacol. 1995 Apr;46(1):59-62. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(95)01229-7.

Abstract

The medicinal plant Cistus populifolius L., shows an important dose-dependent spasmolytic activity. The ability of the Cistus extract to inhibit both acetylcholine (ACh) (3.4 x 10(-8)-6.8 x 10(-5) M) and CaCl2 (2 x 10(-4)-1.28 x 10(-2) M)-induced contractions and the relaxing effect on K+ (75 mM)-induced contractions may indicate a non-specific receptor antagonist. However, this action may be related to the influx of extracellular Ca2+. These antispasmodic effects are partly consistent with the use of C. populifolius in folk medicine for certain gastrointestinal disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Calcium Chloride / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Duodenum / drug effects*
  • Duodenum / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle Relaxation / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects*
  • Parasympatholytics / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Potassium / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Potassium / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Parasympatholytics
  • Plant Extracts
  • Calcium Chloride
  • Acetylcholine
  • Potassium