Antispasmodic effect of Ephedra major extract on adrenergic and calcium channels receptors in the rat uterus
Subject Areas : Journal of Comparative PathobiologyK. Yektaparast Movafegh, 1 , N. Panahi, 2 , G. Sadeghi Hashjin, 3
1 - دانشجوی دامپزشکی، دانشکده دامپزشکی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
2 - گروه علومپایه ، دانشکده دامپزشکی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
3 - گروه فارماکولوژی، دانشکده دامپزشکی، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
Keywords: Ephedra major Herb, Uterus, Organ bath, Rat,
Abstract :
Tendency to utilize Ephedra containing products is increasing due to their favorable propertiessuch as energetic, fat burner, decongestant etc. Due to the presence of uterus agonism α and βadrenergic compound and lack of systematic research on this issue, we conducted to determineeffects of the hydroethanolic extract of Ephedra major (E. Major) host on uterus. Isolated uterusfrom Wistar rat (BW 220±30 g) were tested in the organ bath. Rats were anesthetized and theuterus was isolated and placed in De Jalon solution with bubbled 95 percent O2 and 5 percentCO2. Then, it was cut into segment of 1.5-2 cm and mounted in 25 ml chambers of organ bath.E. Major extract had a relaxation effect on rat uterus. According to the results, the cumulativeconcentration of E. Major (0.00625 - 3 mg/ml) relaxed the KCl (60Mm) - and oxytocin (0.25Mm) - induced contraction dose-dependently (P≤0.05). The inhibitory effect of extract oncontraction induced by KCl was unaffected by phenoxybenzamine (0.001 Mm). But verapamil(0.001 Mm) and propranolol (0.001 Mm) inhibited the relaxant effect (P≤0.05). The inhibitoryeffect of extract on contraction induced by oxytocin had synergism effect by verapamil(P≤0.05). These findings revealed that β-adrenergic receptors and presumably other channelssuch as Ca2+ channels involves in inhibitory effect of E. Major extract. The results support thepossible beneficiary effects of this plant in traditional medicine.