NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
diuretic (45), diaphoretic, lactogogue (24, 46), aphrodisiac and antiasthmatic
(47). It is also used as a fumigant for treatment of headache, sore
throat and inflammation (48), rheumatism (root applied externally) (49,
50), jaundice (51), otitis and cataracts (fresh juice and seeds applied locally)
(6, 52). Additional described uses of the plant include treatment of
dermatitis, alopecia, use as a depurative and abortifacient (53), and (fumigation)
as a mosquito repellent and pediculocide (54).
Pharmacology
Experimental pharmacology
Cardiovascular effects
A methanol extract of the seeds caused a dose-dependent relaxation, after
contraction with noradrenaline (10 -6 M) and potassium chloride (80 mM),
in vascular smooth muscle (rat aorta) in vitro at a median inhibitory concentration
of 14.49 ± 1.15 and 5.93 ± 1.26 µg/ml, respectively. The vasodilatory
effects were potentiated by isoprenaline (10 -9 M) (1.08 ± 0.14 µg/
ml) and decreased by a nonspecific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine
(10 -4 M) (20.81 ± 1.06 µg/ml) (55).
Cholinergic effects
An aqueous extract of the seeds (0.5 ml) exhibited a smooth muscle relaxant
effect in vitro (guinea-pig ileum, rabbit jejunum and trachea) against
acetylcholine- and histamine-induced contractions (56).
Antinociceptive effects
The analgesic activity of an ethanol extract of the entire dried plant was
tested in vivo in mice using the hot-plate test. An intraperitoneal injection
of the extract at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight (bw) demonstrated
analgesic effects against acetic acid-induced writhing (57).
Hypothermic effect
Intraperitoneal administration of the total alkaloid extract of the aerial
parts of the plant to rats (0.5 ml/kg bw) produced significant and dosedependent
hypothermia. Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine
(100 mg/kg/day for 3 days), a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)
synthesis inhibitor, or with serotonin antagonist methysergide (2 mg/
kg), significantly attenuated the hypothermic effect of the total alkaloids.
Propranolol (10 mg/kg), a β-adrenoreceptor antagonist, failed to attenuate
the effect, suggesting that β-adrenoreceptors are not involved in the
pathway producing hypothermia caused by the alkaloids. Pretreatment
with a dopamine receptor antagonist, haloperidol (5 mg/kg, subcutane-
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