Gut and airways relaxant effects of Carum roxburghianum.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Carum roxburghianum is traditionally used in hyperactive gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. The present study was carried out to investigate the possible gut and airways relaxant potential of Carum roxburghianum to rationalize its folk uses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crude extract of Carum roxburghianum (Cr.Cr) was studied in in vivo and in vitro techniques.

RESULTS: Cr.Cr exhibited protective effect against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice at 100-1000 mg/kg. In rabbit jejunum preparations, Cr.Cr (0.03-3.0 mg/mL) caused relaxation of spontaneous and K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions at similar concentrations, like papaverine. Pretreatment of tissues with Cr.Cr (0.1-1.0 mg/mL) shifted Ca(++) concentration-response curves (CRCs) to right, like verapamil. Cr.Cr (0.03 and 0.1 mg/mL) caused leftward shift of isoprenaline-induced inhibitory CRCs, similar to papaverine. In isolated guinea-pig ileum, Cr.Cr (0.01 and 0.03 mg/mL) produced rightward parallel shift of acetylcholine-curves, like atropine. Cr.Cr (1.0-30 mg/kg) caused suppression of carbachol (CCh, 100 μg/kg)-induced increase in inspiratory pressure of anaesthetized rats. In guinea-pig trachea, Cr.Cr (0.03-1.0 mg/mL) relaxed CCh and high K(+)-induced contractions, shifted isoprenaline-induced inhibitory CRCs to left at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/mL and CCh-curves parallel to right (0.01 and 0.03 mg/mL). Cr.Cr did not cause any mortality of mice up to 10 g/kg dose.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Carum roxburghianum possess combination of antidiarrheal, antispasmodic and bronchodilatory effects, which provides pharmacological basis to its traditional use in the disorders of gut and airways hyperactivity, like diarrhea, colic and asthma.