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Bronchodilator, Spasmolytic And Calcium Antagonist Activities Of Nigella Sativa Seeds (Kalonji): A Traditional Herbal Product With Multiple Medicinal Uses, A H. Gilani, N Aziz, I M. Khurram, K S. Chaudhary, A Iqbal

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objective: The seeds of Nigella sativa locally known as "Kalonji" has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases including diarrhoea and asthma. The crude extract of N. sativa seeds (Ns.Cr) was studied in vitro for its possible spasmolytic and bronchodilator activities to rationalize the folkloric uses.
Methods: Isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig tracheal preparations were set up in Tyrode's and Kreb's solutions respectively and aerated with 5% CO2 in oxygen. Isotonic and isometric responses were measured on Bioscience oscillograph and Grass polygraph respectively.Results: The Ns.Cr caused a dose-dependent (0.1-3.0 mg/ml) relaxation of spontaneous contractions …