Abstract
Background and Objectives: Curcuma caesia (family Zingiberaceae) is widely used in India as both an anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic in Ayurvedic medicine. However, there are no published pharmacological data on Curcuma caesia on its potential anti-asthmatic activity. Hence, the objective of the present investigation is to study the mechanisms by which the hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma caesia relaxes the smooth muscle in the bronchioles and vasculature of the respiratory tract.
Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma caesia (CC extract) was tested for its per se relaxant effect in guinea pig trachea and also in the presence of various receptor antagonists and enzyme inhibitors namely propranalol, 2′, 5′-dideoxyadenosine, methylene blue, glibenclamide, Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and α-chymotrypsin. Furthermore, the possible role of hydroalcoholic extract in calcium channel modulation was investigated in depolarized rabbit aorta.
Results: The CC extract concentration dependently relaxed the carbachol (1 μM)-induced pre-contractions; the IC50 value was found to be 239.36 μg/ml and the incubation of either receptor antagonists or enzyme inhibitors did not exhibit any effect on the relaxation. In the isotonic Ca2+ -free high-K+ (60 mM) depolarized aorta, CC extract (30μg/ml) inhibited concentration-response curves of cumulative Ca2+ (0.1-30 mM) and the PD′2 value was found to be 4.11μg/ml.
Interpretation and Conclusion: The extract showed a dose-dependent, non-specific relaxation of pre-contracted isolated guinea pig trachea. The non-specific relaxant effect of the extract may be due to its ability to modulate calcium activity.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
D. K. Arulmozhi
F. U. Alakbarov is Head Scientific Officer, expert in the Oriental and Folk Medicine, Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, 8 Istiglaliyat str., Baku, 370001, Azerbaijan.
At the time of writing Liya Davydov was PharmD candidate, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John’s University. Currently, she is Pharmacy Practice Resident, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY.
Ila Mehra Harris is Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice & Community Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Colin J. Briggs is Professor of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba. Recently he completed a secondment to Health Canada, as Senior Science Advisor in the Therapeutics Products Programme with special responsibility for complementary medicines.
Gemma Briggs is Research Assistant, IMPACT, The Injury Prevention Centre of Children’s Hospital, 501G-715 John Buhler Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Mary Chavezis Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Director of Complementary Medicine Education and Research, The Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Practice, Midwestern University, College of Pharmacy Glendale, Glendale, AZ 85308.
June Riedlinger was Director of the Center for Integrative Therapies in Pharmaceutical Care, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA. Currently he is Adjunct Associate Professor of Neuropathic Medicine, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, 2140 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282.
Gauri Madhav Chauhan and Suresh R. Naik belong to Principal K.M. Kundanani College of Pharmacy affiliated with Mumbai University, Mumbai, India.
Barbara Wider is Research Fellow in Complementary Medicine at the Peninsula Medical School and has been organizing the Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care since 1996.