Studies on the Pharmacology of Echitamine, an Alkaloid from the Stem Bark of Alstonia boonei L. (Apocynaceae)

Abstract

The pharmacological actions of echitamine, an alkaloid obtained from the stem bark of Alstonia boonei Wild. (Apocynaceae), have been investigated in some laboratory animals. The results indicate that the alkaloid possesses a battery of pharmacological activities, the major effects of echitamine included: lowering of systemic arterial blood pressure (i.e. hypotensive activity) in normotensive anaesthetized animals, inductions of negative chronotropic and inotropic responses in isolated atrial muscle strips, relaxation of isolated vascular and extra-vascular smooth muscles, inhibition of electrically-provoked and agonist-induced contractions or relaxations of isolated smooth muscle preparations, paralysis of electrically-evoked skeletal muscle twitches, and induction of diuresis. The pharmacological implications and some plausible folkloric therapeutic significance of the above findings are discussed.