Effects of the water soluble fraction from leaves of Ageratum conyzoides on smooth muscle

✍ Scribed by Maria Jeane Margort e Silva; Francisco Ruy Capaz; Marcus Raimundo Vale

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 50 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0951-418X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(200003)14:2<130::aid-ptr594>3.0.co;2-4

✦ Synopsis

The water soluble fraction of Ageratum conyzoides L. (WSF) was studied in isolated rat uterus and intestinal smooth muscles in order to evaluate its popular use as a spasmolytic. WSF (0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL) increased EC 50 values and decreased maximum responses to acetylcholine and calcium chloride. WSF (0.5-3.3 mg/mL) also produced direct myorelaxant effect on smooth muscle preparations. Theophylline (10 À3 M) potentiated the relaxant action of WSF. Theophylline also prevented the decrease in maximum response promoted by WSF in acetylcholine concentration-effect curves. These results seem to be partially linked to calcium mobilization. The data also suggest that WSF could act synergistically with theophylline in the inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The results give support to the popular medicinal indications of the plant.