Antispasmodic and hypotensive effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract

The effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract oil the contractile responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum induced by acetylcholine. histamine and KCl, and oil the mean arterial blood pressure of rat were investigated. In the presence of extract (3 mg/ml), the average amplitude of spontaneous contractions of the isolated guinea-pig ileum was decreased to 54 +/- 7% of control. Exposure of the precontracted ileum by acetylcholine (10 muM) to Ferula asafoetida urn extract caused relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. Similar relaxatory effect of the extract was observed on the precontracted ileum by histamine (10 muM) and KG (28 mM). However, when the preparations were preincubated with indomethacin (100 W) and different antagonists, Such as propranolol (I muM), atropine (100 W). chlorpheniramine (25 nM) then were contracted with KCl, exposure to the extract (3 mg/ml) did lot Cause any relaxation. Furthermore, Ferula asafoetida guru extract (0.3-2.2 mg/100 body weight) significantly reduced the mean arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised rats. It might be concluded that the relaxant Compounds in Ferula asafoetida gum extract interfere with a variety Of muscarinic, adrenergic and histaminic receptor activities or with the mobilisation of calcium ions required for Smooth Muscle contraction non-specificly. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.