Studies on the antihypertensive, antispasmodic, bronchodilator and hepatoprotective activities of the Carum copticum seed extract

J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr 8;98(1-2):127-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.01.017.

Abstract

This study describes the antihypertensive, antispasmodic, bronchodilator and hepatoprotective activities of the aqueous-methanolic extract of Carum copticum Benth. seeds (CSE) to rationalize some of its traditional uses. CSE (3-100 mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent fall in arterial blood pressure in anaesthetized rats. In isolated rabbit aorta and jejunum preparations, CSE (0.1-3.0 mg/ml) caused an inhibitory effect on the K+-induced contractions. The calcium channel blocking (CCB) effect was confirmed when CSE shifted the Ca2+ dose-response curves (DRCs) to right similar to verapamil. In isolated guinea-pig tracheal preparations, it caused inhibition of carbachol and K+-induced bronchoconstriction at 0.1-1.0 mg/ml as well as shifted the dose-response curves (DRCs) of carbachol and histamine to the right with suppression of maximum response suggestive of non-specific bronchodilator effect mediated possibly through CCB. Pretreatment of rats with CSE (500 mg/kg orally for 2 days at 12 h intervals) prevented paracetamol (640 mg/kg) and CCl4 (150 ml/kg)-induced rise in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferases (AST and ALT). The same dose of CSE was able to prevent the CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice confirming its hepatoprotectivity. These results indicate the presence of calcium antagonist(s) in Carum copticum seeds and thus provides sound mechanistic basis for some of their folkloric uses.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / chemistry
  • Antihypertensive Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / pathology
  • Aorta / physiology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Bronchodilator Agents / chemistry
  • Bronchodilator Agents / isolation & purification
  • Bronchodilator Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carum*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Intestine, Small / anatomy & histology
  • Intestine, Small / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / physiology
  • Liver Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Methanol
  • Mice
  • Parasympatholytics / chemistry
  • Parasympatholytics / isolation & purification
  • Parasympatholytics / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Protective Agents / chemistry
  • Protective Agents / isolation & purification
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Trachea / drug effects
  • Trachea / pathology
  • Trachea / physiology
  • Water

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Parasympatholytics
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protective Agents
  • Water
  • Methanol