Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Antispasmodic and vasodilator activities of Morinda citrifolia root extract are mediated through blockade of voltage dependent calcium channels
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 10, Article 2, Year 2010
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background: Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is an edible plant with wide range of medicinal uses. It occurs exclusively in tropical climate zone from India through Southeast Asia and Australia to Eastern Polynesia and Hawaii. The objective of this study was to explore the possible mode(s) of action for its antispasmodic, vasodilator and cardio-suppressant effects to rationalize its medicinal use in gut and cardiovascular disorders.Methods: Isolated tissue preparations such as, rabbit jejunum, rat and rabbit aorta and guinea pig atria were used to test the antispasmodic and cardiovascular relaxant effects and the possible mode of action(s) of the 70% aqueous-ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia roots (Mc.Cr).Results: The Mc.Cr produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous and high K+ induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations. It also caused right ward shift in the concentration response curves of Ca++, similar to that of verapamil. In guinea-pig right atria, Mc.Cr caused inhibition of both atrial force and rate of spontaneous contractions. In rabbit thoracic aortic preparations, Mc.Cr also suppressed contractions induced by phenylephrine (1.0 μM) in normal- Ca++ and Ca++-free Kerb's solutions and by high K+, similar to that of verapamil. In rat thoracic aortic preparations, Mc.Cr also relaxed the phenylephrine (1.0 μM)-induced contractions. The vasodilatory responses were not altered in the presence of L-NAME (0.1 mM) or atropine (1.0 μM) and removal of endothelium.Conclusions: These results suggest that the spasmolytic and vasodilator effects of Mc.Cr root extract are mediated possibly through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels and release of intracellular calcium, which may explain the medicinal use of Morinda citrifolia in diarrhea and hypertension. However, more detailed studies are required to assess the safety and efficacy of this plant. © 2010 Gilani et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gilani, Anwar ul Hassan
Pakistan, Karachi
The Aga Khan University Medical College
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
King Saud University
Mandukhail, Saf Ur Rehman
Pakistan, Karachi
The Aga Khan University Medical College
Pakistan, Quetta
University of Balochistan
Iqbal, Javeid
Pakistan, Quetta
University of Balochistan
Yasinzai, Masoom
Pakistan, Quetta
University of Balochistan
Aziz, Nauman
Pakistan, Karachi
The Aga Khan University Medical College
Khan, Aslam
Pakistan, Karachi
The Aga Khan University Medical College
Rehman, Najeeb Ur
Pakistan, Karachi
The Aga Khan University Medical College
Statistics
Citations: 101
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1472-6882-10-2
e-ISSN:
14726882
Research Areas
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Locations
Guinea