Screening of some European medicinal plants for spasmolytic activity on isolated guinea-pig trachea

• Eight European plants, used traditionally against diseases of the respiratory system, have been assayed for in vitro spasmolytic activity on guinea-pig trachea. The plants were collected or cultivated in the south of Sweden, and both water and 67% methanol extracts of the parts reported to be used in the traditional medicine were prepared and assayed. Five of the species did not show any significant activity at concentrations up to 0.6 mg extract per ml organ bath, the methanol extracts of 2 species (Glechoma hederacea and Hyssopus officinale) showed weak activity, while 0.6 mg/ml of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia abrotanum relaxed the tone induced by 0.1 μmol/l carbachol almost (80%) as effectively as 2.2 mmol/l terbutaline.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmaceutiska vetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmaceutical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

artemisia abrotanum extract

plant extract

terbutaline

unclassified drug

animal tissue

controlled study

drug screening

guinea pig

male

medicinal plant

nonhuman

short survey

spasmolysis

Sweden

trachea

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)