| RESEARCH PAPER |
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| Year : 2005 | Volume
: 37
| Issue : 2 | Page : 111-115 |
Relaxant effect of Cuminum cyminum on guinea pig tracheal chains and its possible mechanism(s)
MH Boskabady, S Kiani, H Azizi
Deptartment of Physiology, Ghaem Medical Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Correspondence Address:
M H Boskabady
Deptartment of Physiology, Ghaem Medical Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.15111
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relaxant effects of the macerated and aqueous extracts of Cuminum cyminum on the tracheal chains of guinea pig.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relaxant effects of cumulative concentrations of macerated and aqueous extracts (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 g%) in comparison with saline and theophylline (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mM) were examined on pre-contracted tracheal chains of guinea pigs under different conditions.
RESULTS: In Group 1 experiments (contracted by KCl) only the last two concentrations of theophylline and the highest concentration of macerated extract showed significant relaxant effect compared to that of saline (P<0.001 and P<0.05 for theophylline and macerated extract respectively). The effects of the last two concentrations of theophylline in this group were significantly greater than those of the macerated and aqueous extracts (P<0.001). However, in Group 2 experiments (contracted by methacholine) both the extracts and theophylline showed concentration-dependent relaxant effect compared to that of saline (P<0.05 to P<0.001). The effects of the two last concentrations of both extracts were significantly lower than those of theophylline in Group 2 experiments (P<0.05 to P<0.001). In Group 3 (non-incubated, contracted by methacholine) the extracts of Cuminum cyminum did not show any relaxant effect of tracheal chains. The relaxant effects of macerated and aqueous extracts in Groups 1 and 3 were significantly lower than those of Group 2 (P<0.05 to P<0.001). However, the effects of different concentrations of theophylline obtained in Group 1 and 2 were not significantly different. There was a significant correlation between the effects and concentrations of theophylline in Groups 1 and 2, macerated extract in Groups 2 and 3 and aqueous extract in Group 1 (P<0.05 to P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: These results show a potent relaxant effect of Cuminum cyminum on guinea pig tracheal chains which may be due to a stimulatory effect of the plant on β-adrenoceptors and/or an inhibitory effect on histamine H1 receptors.
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