TY - JOUR
T1 - Antispasmodic and antidiarrheal activities of valeriana hardwickii wall. Rhizome are putatively mediated through calcium channel blockade
AU - Gilani, Anwar H.
AU - Bashir, Samra
AU - Memon, Raafia
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Valeriana hardwickii is indigenous to Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, where it is traditionally being used as an antispasmodic and antidiarrheal, besides its culinary use as spice. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to these medicinal uses. The crude aqueous-methanolic extract of Valeriana hardwickii rhizome (Vh.Cr) was studied on isolated rabbit jejunum and castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice for spasmolytic and antidiarrheal properties, respectively. Vh.Cr caused concentration-dependent (0.01-1mg/mL) relaxation of spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum and inhibited K-induced contractions (0.01-0.3mg/mL), similar to verapamil, suggestive of calcium channel blockade (CCB). The CCB effect was confirmed when pretreatment of the jejunum preparations with Vh.Cr produced a concentration-dependent (0.03-0.1mg/mL) rightward shift in the Ca concentration-response curves, as caused by verapamil. Vh.Cr exhibited dose-dependent (100-300mg/kg) protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. Loperamide, a standard antidiarrheal drug, similarly prevented the diarrhea. These data indicate the presence of CCB effect in the extract of Valeriana hardwickii rhizome, possibly mediating its antispasmodic and antidiarrheal activities and provide a scientific base for its traditional use in hyperactive gut disorders.
AB - Valeriana hardwickii is indigenous to Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, where it is traditionally being used as an antispasmodic and antidiarrheal, besides its culinary use as spice. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to these medicinal uses. The crude aqueous-methanolic extract of Valeriana hardwickii rhizome (Vh.Cr) was studied on isolated rabbit jejunum and castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice for spasmolytic and antidiarrheal properties, respectively. Vh.Cr caused concentration-dependent (0.01-1mg/mL) relaxation of spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum and inhibited K-induced contractions (0.01-0.3mg/mL), similar to verapamil, suggestive of calcium channel blockade (CCB). The CCB effect was confirmed when pretreatment of the jejunum preparations with Vh.Cr produced a concentration-dependent (0.03-0.1mg/mL) rightward shift in the Ca concentration-response curves, as caused by verapamil. Vh.Cr exhibited dose-dependent (100-300mg/kg) protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. Loperamide, a standard antidiarrheal drug, similarly prevented the diarrhea. These data indicate the presence of CCB effect in the extract of Valeriana hardwickii rhizome, possibly mediating its antispasmodic and antidiarrheal activities and provide a scientific base for its traditional use in hyperactive gut disorders.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955094600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1155/2011/304960
DO - 10.1155/2011/304960
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79955094600
SN - 1741-427X
VL - 2011
JO - Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
JF - Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
M1 - 304960
ER -
