VASODILATOR, BRONCHODILATOR AND SPASMOLYTIC ACTIVITIES OF SPILANTHES ACMELLA

Abstract

BSTRACT Spilanthes acmella Murr. (Sa. Murr) is belong to family asteraceae known as akarkara in common language and widely distributed perennial herb in South Asia (particularly in India and Pakistan); customarily used by local population for the management of multiple illnesses including gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular disorders but commonly used for toothache and to stimulate flow of saliva, tongue paralysis and sore mouth and the present study was undertaken to validate these folkloric uses. The application of a methanol extract of the plant (Sa. Murr) to isolated rabbit jejunum preparation exhibited relaxation through decrease in magnitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions. The (Sa. Murr.) also exerted relaxant effect on high K+ (80 mM) induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations. The (Sa. Murr.) also caused concentration-dependent relaxation in spontaneous and K+ (80 mM) induced contractions which are comparable to effect produced by verapamil. The (Sa. Murr.) caused shifting of the Ca2+-curves toward right, suggesting the presence of a Ca2+ channel blocking activity. Subsequently, the Sa. Murr., caused relaxation of CCh (1 μM) and K+ (80 mM) induced contractions in isolated rabbit tracheal preparations, suggesting that the observed relaxant effect can be mediated through anti-muscarinic and/or Ca2+ channel blocking activities. The Sa. Murr. tested against phenylephrine (PE; 1 μM) and K + (80 mM) induced contractions exhibited relaxation of isolated rabbit aortic preparations. The above-mentioned studies provided a scientific basis for the folkloric use of Spilanthes acmella Murr. in the management of multiple ailments in traditional systems of medicines.