Screening of Some European Medicinal Plants for Spasmolytic Activity on Isolated Guinea-Pig Trachea

Abstract

Eight European plants, used traditionally against diseases of the respiratory system, have been assayed for in vitro spasmolytic activity on guinea-pig trachea. The plants were collected or cultivated in the south of Sweden, and both water and 67% methanol extracts of the parts reported to be used in the traditional medicine were prepared and assayed. Five of the species did not show any significant activity at concentrations up to 0.6 mg extract per ml organ bath, the methanol extracts of 2 species (Glechoma hederacea and Hyssopus officinale) showed weak activity, while 0.6 mg/ml of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia abrotanum relaxed the tone induced by 0.1 μmol/l carbachol almost (80%) as effectively as 2.2 mmol/l terbutaline.

Keywords::

• Screening
• plant
• spasmolytic
• trachea