Abstract
The antidiarrheal properties of water and methanolic extracts of Psidium guajava leaves have been demonstrated with anteriority and their spasmolytic effect was attributed to quercetin, a flavonoid contained in this plant. The present paper reports the intestinal smooth muscle relaxation produced by quercetin on isolated guinea pig ileum previously contracted by a depolarizing KCl solution. Quercetin also inhibited intestinal contraction induced by different concentrations of calcium, shifting the contraction curve to the right showing a clear calcium-antagonistic effect. Quercetin effect on ileal and aortic smooth muscles are compared, the ileum being more sensitive to this flavonoid. The calcium-antagonist property of quercetin is discussed and also its contribution to explain the spasmolytic effect of this popular herbal remedy.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Aorta, Thoracic / drug effects*
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Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / antagonists & inhibitors
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Calcium / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Calcium / physiology
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Calcium-Transporting ATPases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Female
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Guinea Pigs
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Ileum / drug effects*
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Male
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Methanol
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Models, Biological
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Muscle Relaxation / drug effects
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Muscle, Smooth / drug effects
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Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
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Parasympatholytics / isolation & purification
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Parasympatholytics / pharmacology*
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Plant Extracts / chemistry
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Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
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Quercetin / isolation & purification
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Quercetin / pharmacology*
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Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / antagonists & inhibitors
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Water
Substances
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Parasympatholytics
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Plant Extracts
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Water
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Quercetin
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Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase
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Calcium-Transporting ATPases
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Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
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Calcium
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Methanol