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Possible Presence Of Calcium Channel Blocker(S) In Rubia Cordifolia: An Indigenous Medicinal Plant, A H. Gilani, K H. Janbaz, M Zaman, A Lateef, A Suria, H R. Ahmed
Possible Presence Of Calcium Channel Blocker(S) In Rubia Cordifolia: An Indigenous Medicinal Plant, A H. Gilani, K H. Janbaz, M Zaman, A Lateef, A Suria, H R. Ahmed
Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Crude extract of Rubia cordifolia (RC) was tested in isolated tissue preparations for its possible calcium channel antagonistic activity. RC suppressed the spontaneous contractions of guinea-pig atria, rabbit jejunum and rat uterus in a concentration dependent manner (0.1-3 mg/ml). In rabbit aorta, it inhibited norepinephrine (10 microM) and KCl (80 mM) induced contractions. Replacement of physiological salt solution with calcium free solution abolished the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum. However, addition of calcium (25 micrograms/ml) in the tissue bath restored the spontaneous movements. When the tissues were pretreated with plant extract (1 mg/ml) or verapamil (0.5 microgram/ml), addition of calcium …