Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 66 in total

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  1. Fulltext Effect of Cymbopogon citratus and Citral on Vascular Smooth Muscle of the Isolated Thoracic Rat Aorta
    Devi RC, Sim SM, Ismail R
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:539475.
    PMID: 22675383 DOI: 10.1155/2012/539475
    Cymbopogon citratus has been shown to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic and chemo-protective properties. Citral, is the major constituent of C. citratus. This study investigated the effects of methanolic extracts of leaves (LE), stems (SE), and roots (RE) of C. citratus and citral on vascular smooth muscle and explored their possible mechanisms of action. The experiment was conducted using isolated tissue preparations, where citral, LE, SE, and RE were added separately into a tissue bath that contained aortic rings, which were pre-contracted with phenylephrine (PE). Citral, LE, and RE exhibited a dose-dependent relaxant effect on the PE-induced contractions. Citral appeared to partially act via NO as its vasorelaxant effect was attenuated by L-NAME. However, the effect of LE may involve prostacyclin as indomethacin reversed the relaxant effect of LE on the PE-induced contraction. Furthermore, citral, LE, and RE abolished the restoration of PE-induced contraction caused by the addition of increasing doses of calcium in both endothelium intact and denuded rings. These findings suggest that the relaxation effect of citral, LE, and RE is endothelium-independent and may be mainly by affecting the intracellular concentration of calcium. Citral may partially act through the NO pathway while a vasodilator prostaglandin may mediate the effect of LE.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
  2. Effect of acetylcholine and morphine on bronchial smooth muscle contraction and its modulation by steroid hormones
    Nabishah BM, Morat PB, Khalid BA, Kadir BA
    Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol, 1990 Dec;17(12):841-7.
    PMID: 2092952
    1. The effects of corticosteroid pretreatment on acetylcholine (ACH)-induced contraction of bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) were studied. 2. ACH dose-response curves for dexamethasone (DM)- and corticosterone (B)-treated but not deoxycorticosterone (DOC)-treated BSM were significantly shifted to the right; this provides evidence that glucocorticoid treatment reduced the sensitivity of BSM to ACH. 3. Morphine enhanced BSM contraction in response to ACH by 20%. DM suppressed this enhancement. 4. These findings correlated well with the reduction of muscarinic receptor numbers in BSM by glucocorticoids in our previous study. In addition, glucocorticoids reduced the sensitivity of BSM to opioids.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth/drug effects*; Muscle, Smooth/physiology
  3. Effect of alpha lipoic acid on oxidative stress and vascular wall of diabetic rats
    Balkis Budin S, Othman F, Louis SR, Abu Bakar M, Radzi M, Osman K, et al.
    Rom J Morphol Embryol, 2009;50(1):23-30.
    PMID: 19221642
    PREMISES AND OBJECTIVES: Antioxidant plays an important role in preventing the progression of diabetes mellitus (DM) complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on plasma lipid, oxidative stress and vascular changes in diabetic rats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiopathology*; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/ultrastructure
  4. Effect of steroid hormones on muscarinic receptors of bronchial smooth muscle
    Nabishah BM, Morat PB, Kadir BA, Khalid BA
    Gen. Pharmacol., 1991;22(2):389-92.
    PMID: 1647349
    1. Glucocorticosteroid may relieve bronchospasm by mediating changes in the muscarinic receptor concentration and/or its affinity. 2. Cholinergic muscarinic receptors were determined by using Scatchard's plots from radioligand binding assays of 0.13-3.2 nM [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate binding to the membrane fraction of bronchial smooth muscle (BSM). 3. The concentration of muscarinic receptor in BSM of normal rat was 57 +/- 3 fmol mg protein and the dissociation constant was 0.07 +/- 0.02 nM. Dexamethasone and corticosterone reduced muscarinic receptor concentration to 50-60% of basal with no changes in receptor affinity. No changes were found in rat treated with deoxycorticosterone. 4. These findings suggest that glucocorticoids but not mineralocorticoid relieve bronchospasm at least partly by reducing the cholinergic hypersensitivity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth/drug effects*; Muscle, Smooth/metabolism
  5. Effects of flavonoids on vascular smooth muscle of the isolated rat thoracic aorta
    Ajay M, Gilani AU, Mustafa MR
    Life Sci, 2003 Dec 19;74(5):603-12.
    PMID: 14623031
    The potency, structure-activity relationship, and mechanism of vasorelaxation of a series of flavonoids, representing different subclasses (flavonols: fisetin, rutin, quercetin; flavones: chrysin, flavone, baicalein; flavanones: naringenin, naringin; isoflavones: diadzein and flavanes: epigallo catechin gallate), were examined in the isolated rat aorta. Most of the flavonoids tested showed concentration dependent relaxant effects against K+ (80 mM) and phenylephrine (PE, 0.1 microM)-induced contractions with a greater inhibition of the responses to the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist. The relaxant effects of most of the flavonoids involve in part the release of nitric oxide and prostaglandins from the endothelium as pretreatment with L-NAME and indomethacin attenuated the responses. In addition, the relaxant action of the flavonoids includes inhibition of Ca+2 influx and release of Ca+2 from intracellular stores. A structure-activity relationship amongst the flavonoids was suggested.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects*
  6. Emerging concepts and directed therapeutics for the management of asthma: regulating the regulators
    Shastri MD, Chong WC, Dua K, Peterson GM, Patel RP, Mahmood MQ, et al.
    Inflammopharmacology, 2021 Feb;29(1):15-33.
    PMID: 33152094 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-020-00770-y
    Asthma is a common, heterogeneous and serious disease, its prevalence has steadily risen in most parts of the world, and the condition is often inadequately controlled in many patients. Hence, there is a major need for new therapeutic approaches. Mild-to-moderate asthma is considered a T-helper cell type-2-mediated inflammatory disorder that develops due to abnormal immune responses to otherwise innocuous allergens. Prolonged exposure to allergens and persistent inflammation results in myofibroblast infiltration and airway remodelling with mucus hypersecretion, airway smooth muscle hypertrophy, and excess collagen deposition. The airways become hyper-responsive to provocation resulting in the characteristic wheezing and obstructed airflow experienced by patients. Extensive research has progressed the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the development of new treatments for the management of asthma. Here, we review the basis of the disease, covering new areas such as the role of vascularisation and microRNAs, as well as associated potential therapeutic interventions utilising reports from animal and human studies. We also cover novel drug delivery strategies that are being developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. Potential avenues to explore to improve the future of asthma management are highlighted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth
  7. Fulltext Erectogenic Effects of Clerodendron capitatum: Involvement of Phosphodiesterase Type-5 Inhibition
    Abdelwahab SI, Mohamed AH, Mohamed OY, Oall M, Taha MM, Mohan S, et al.
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:137386.
    PMID: 21747892 DOI: 10.1155/2012/137386
    Clerodendron capitatum (Willd) (family: verbenaceae) is locally named as Gung and used traditionally to treat erectile dysfunction. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the erectogenic properties of C. capitatum. The relaxation effect of this plant was tested on phenylephrine precontracted rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM). The effects of C. capitatum were also examined on isolated Guinea pig atria alone, in the presence of calcium chloride (Ca(2+) channel blocker), atropine (cholinergic blocker), and glibenclamide (ATP-sensitive K(+) channel blocker). These effects were confirmed on isolated rabbit aortic strips. The extract, when tested colorimetrically for its inhibitory activities on phosphordiesterase-5 (PDE-5) in vitro towards p-nitrophenyl phenyl phosphate (PNPPP), was observed to induce significant dose-dependent inhibition of PDE-5, with an ID(50) of 0.161 mg/ml (P < .05). In conclusion, our results suggest that C. capitatum possesses a relaxant effect on CCSM, which is attributable to the inhibition of PDE-5, but not mediated by the release calcium, activation of adrenergic or cholinergic receptors, or the activation of potassium channels.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth
  8. Fulltext Evaluation of the effect of andrographolide on atherosclerotic rabbits induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis
    Al Batran R, Al-Bayaty F, Al-Obaidi MM, Hussain SF, Mulok TZ
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:724718.
    PMID: 25215291 DOI: 10.1155/2014/724718
    Epidemiologic evidence has demonstrated significant associations between atherosclerosis and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg). We had investigated the effect of andrographolide (AND) on atherosclerosis induced by Pg in rabbits. For experimental purpose, we separated thirty male white New Zealand rabbits into 5 groups. Group 1 received standard food pellets; Groups 2-5 were orally challenged with Pg; Group 3 received atorvastatin (AV, 5 mg/kg), and Groups 4-5 received 10 and 20 mg/kg of AND, respectively, over 12 weeks. Groups treated with AND showed significant decrease in TC, TG, and LDL levels (P<0.05) and significant increase in HDL level in the serum of rabbits. Furthermore, the treated groups (G3-G5) exhibited reductions in interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as compared to atherogenicgroup (G2). The histological results showed that the thickening of atherosclerotic plaques were less significant in treated groups (G3-G5) compared with atherogenicgroup (G2). Also, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) staining decreased within the plaques of atherogenicgroup (G2), while it was increased in treated groups (G3-G5). Lastly, groups treated with AV and AND (G3-G5) showed significant reduction of CD36 expression (P<0.05) compared to atherogenicgroup (G2). These results substantially proved that AND contain antiatherogenic activity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth/drug effects
  9. Fulltext Fabrication of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Based Self-Assembled Scaffold under Hypoxia and Mechanical Stimulation for Urethral Tissue Engineering
    Rashidbenam Z, Jasman MH, Tan GH, Goh EH, Fam XI, Ho CCK, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2021 Mar 25;22(7).
    PMID: 33805910 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073350
    Long urethral strictures are often treated with autologous genital skin and buccal mucosa grafts; however, risk of hair ingrowth and donor site morbidity, restrict their application. To overcome this, we introduced a tissue-engineered human urethra comprising adipose-derived stem cell (ASC)-based self-assembled scaffold, human urothelial cells (UCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). ASCs were cultured with ascorbic acid to stimulate extracellular matrix (ECM) production. The scaffold (ECM) was stained with collagen type-I antibody and the thickness was measured under a confocal microscope. Results showed that the thickest scaffold (28.06 ± 0.59 μm) was achieved with 3 × 104 cells/cm2 seeding density, 100 μg/mL ascorbic acid concentration under hypoxic and dynamic culture condition. The biocompatibility assessment showed that UCs and SMCs seeded on the scaffold could proliferate and maintain the expression of their markers (CK7, CK20, UPIa, and UPII) and (α-SMA, MHC and Smootheline), respectively, after 14 days of in vitro culture. ECM gene expression analysis showed that the ASC and dermal fibroblast-based scaffolds (control) were comparable. The ASC-based scaffold can be handled and removed from the plate. This suggests that multiple layers of scaffold can be stacked to form the urothelium (seeded with UCs), submucosal layer (ASCs only), and smooth muscle layer (seeded with SMCs) and has the potential to be developed into a fully functional human urethra for urethral reconstructive surgeries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth
  10. Factors inducing in-stent restenosis: an in-vitro model
    Santin M, Morris C, Harrison M, Mikhalovska L, Lloyd AW, Mikhalovsky S
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:93-4.
    PMID: 15468834
    In-stent restenosis is caused by the proliferation of the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) following a host response towards the implanted device. However, the precise biochemical and cellular mechanisms are still not completely understood. In this paper, the behaviour of SMCs has been investigated by an in vitro model where the cells were stimulated by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on tissue-like substrates as well as on biomaterials such as stainless steel (St) and diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated St. The results demonstrated that SMCs have a completely different adhesion mode on St and become particularly prone to proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion under PDGF stimulus. This would suggest that restenosis may caused by the accidental contact of the SMC with the St substrate under an inflammatory insult.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiopathology*
  11. Fulltext Fiber density of collagen grafts impacts rabbit urethral regeneration
    Larsson HM, Vythilingam G, Pinnagoda K, Vardar E, Engelhardt EM, Sothilingam S, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2018 07 03;8(1):10057.
    PMID: 29968749 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27621-9
    There is a need for efficient and "off-the-shelf" grafts in urethral reconstructive surgery. Currently available surgical techniques require harvesting of grafts from autologous sites, with increased risk of surgical complications and added patient discomfort. Therefore, a cost-effective and cell-free graft with adequate regenerative potential has a great chance to be translated into clinical practice. Tubular cell-free collagen grafts were prepared by varying the collagen density and fiber distribution, thereby creating a polarized low fiber density collagen graft (LD-graft). A uniform, high fiber density collagen graft (HD-graft) was engineered as a control. These two grafts were implanted to bridge a 2 cm long iatrogenic urethral defect in a rabbit model. Histology revealed that rabbits implanted with the LD-graft had a better smooth muscle regeneration compared to the HD-graft. The overall functional outcome assessed by contrast voiding cystourethrography showed patency of the urethra in 90% for the LD-graft and in 66.6% for the HD-graft. Functional regeneration of the rabbit implanted with the LD-graft could further be demonstrated by successful mating, resulting in healthy offspring. In conclusion, cell-free low-density polarized collagen grafts show better urethral regeneration than high-density collagen grafts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth
  12. Fulltext Fifteen new risk loci for coronary artery disease highlight arterial-wall-specific mechanisms
    Howson JMM, Zhao W, Barnes DR, Ho WK, Young R, Paul DS, et al.
    Nat Genet, 2017 Jul;49(7):1113-1119.
    PMID: 28530674 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3874
    Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although 58 genomic regions have been associated with CAD thus far, most of the heritability is unexplained, indicating that additional susceptibility loci await identification. An efficient discovery strategy may be larger-scale evaluation of promising associations suggested by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Hence, we genotyped 56,309 participants using a targeted gene array derived from earlier GWAS results and performed meta-analysis of results with 194,427 participants previously genotyped, totaling 88,192 CAD cases and 162,544 controls. We identified 25 new SNP-CAD associations (P < 5 × 10-8, in fixed-effects meta-analysis) from 15 genomic regions, including SNPs in or near genes involved in cellular adhesion, leukocyte migration and atherosclerosis (PECAM1, rs1867624), coagulation and inflammation (PROCR, rs867186 (p.Ser219Gly)) and vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation (LMOD1, rs2820315). Correlation of these regions with cell-type-specific gene expression and plasma protein levels sheds light on potential disease mechanisms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
  13. Flavopiridol Inhibits TGF-β-Stimulated Biglycan Synthesis by Blocking Linker Region Phosphorylation and Nuclear Translocation of Smad2
    Rostam MA, Shajimoon A, Kamato D, Mitra P, Piva TJ, Getachew R, et al.
    J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 2018 04;365(1):156-164.
    PMID: 29438988 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.244483
    Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic growth factor implicated in the development of atherosclerosis for its role in mediating glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain hyperelongation on the proteoglycan biglycan, a phenomenon that increases the binding of atherogenic lipoproteins in the vessel wall. Phosphorylation of the transcription factor Smad has emerged as a critical step in the signaling pathways that control the synthesis of biglycan, both the core protein and the GAG chains. We have used flavopiridol, a well-known cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, to study the role of linker region phosphorylation in the TGF-β-stimulated synthesis of biglycan. We used radiosulfate incorporation and SDS-PAGE to assess proteoglycan synthesis, real-time polymerase chain reaction to assess gene expression, and chromatin immunoprecipitation to assess the binding of Smads to the promoter region of GAG Synthesizing genes. Flavopiridol blocked TGF-β-stimulated synthesis of mRNA for the GAG synthesizing enzymes, and chondroitin 4-sulfotransferase (C4ST-1), chondroitin sulfate synthase-1 (ChSy-1) and TGF-β-mediated proteoglycans synthesis as well as GAG hyperelongation. Flavopiridol blocked TGF-β-stimulated Smad2 phosphorylation at both the serine triplet and the isolated threonine residue in the linker region. The binding of Smad to the promoter region of the C4ST-1 and ChSy-1 genes was stimulated by TGF-β, and this response was blocked by flavopiridol, demonstrating that linker region phosphorylated Smad can pass to the nucleus and positively regulate transcription. These results demonstrate the validity of the kinases, which phosphorylate the Smad linker region as potential therapeutic target(s) for the development of an agent to prevent atherosclerosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology
  14. Goniothalamin induces apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells
    Chan KM, Rajab NF, Ishak MH, Ali AM, Yusoff K, Din LB, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2006 Feb 1;159(2):129-40.
    PMID: 16297902
    Restenosis represents a major impediment to the success of coronary angioplasty. Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been shown to be an important process in the pathogenesis of restenosis. A number of agents, particularly rapamycin and paclitaxel, have been shown to impact on this process. This study was carried out to determine the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of goniothalamin (GN) on VSMCs. Results from MTT cytotoxicity assay showed that the IC(50) for GN was 4.4 microg/ml (22 microM), which was lower compared to the clinically used rapamycin (IC(50) of 25 microg/ml [27.346 microM]). This was achieved primarily via apoptosis where up to 25.83 +/- 0.44% of apoptotic cells were detected after 72 h treatment with GN. In addition, GN demonstrated similar effects as rapamycin in inhibiting VSMCs proliferation using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) cell proliferation assay after 72 h treatment at IC(50) concentration (p > 0.05). In order to understand the mechanisms of GN, DNA damage detection using comet assay was determined at 2h post-treatment with GN. Our results showed that there was a concentration-dependent increase in DNA damage in VSMCs prior to cytotoxicity. Moreover, GN effects were comparable to rapamycin. In conclusion, our data show that GN initially induces DNA damage which subsequently leads to cytotoxicity primarily via apoptosis in VSMCs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects*
  15. Fulltext Goniothalamin induces coronary artery smooth muscle cells apoptosis: the p53-dependent caspase-2 activation pathway
    Chan KM, Rajab NF, Siegel D, Din LB, Ross D, Inayat-Hussain SH
    Toxicol. Sci., 2010 Aug;116(2):533-48.
    PMID: 20498002 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq151
    Goniothalamin (GN), a styryl-lactone isolated from Goniothalamus andersonii, has been demonstrated to possess antirestenostic properties by inducing apoptosis on coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs). In this study, the molecular mechanisms of GN-induced CASMCs apoptosis were further elucidated. Apoptosis assessment based on the externalization of phosphatidylserine demonstrated that GN induces CASMCs apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. The GN-induced DNA damage occurred with concomitant elevation of p53 as early as 2 h, demonstrating an upstream signal for apoptosis. However, the p53 elevation in GN-treated CASMCs was independent of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 and Mdm-2 expression. An increase in hydrogen peroxide and reduction in free thiols confirmed the role for oxidative stress in GN treatment. Pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD-FMK) that significantly abrogated GN-induced CASMCs apoptosis suggested the involvement of caspase(s). The role of apical caspase-2, -8, and -9 was then investigated, and sequential activation of caspase-2 and -9 but not caspase-8 leading to downstream caspase-3 cleavage was observed in GN-treated CASMCs. Reduction of ATP level and decrease in oxygen consumption further confirmed the role of mitochondria in GN-induced apoptosis in CASMCs. The mitochondrial release of cytochrome c was seen without mitochondrial membrane potential loss and was independent of cardiolipin. These data provide insight into the mechanisms of GN-induced apoptosis, which may have important implications in the development of drug-eluting stents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects*
  16. Fulltext Human adipose tissue derived stem cells as a source of smooth muscle cells in the regeneration of muscular layer of urinary bladder wall
    Salem SA, Hwie AN, Saim A, Chee Kong CH, Sagap I, Singh R, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2013 Jul;20(4):80-7.
    PMID: 24044001 MyJurnal
    Adipose tissue provides an abundant source of multipotent cells, which represent a source of cell-based regeneration strategies for urinary bladder smooth muscle repair. Our objective was to confirm that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be differentiated into smooth muscle cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth
  17. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a nanofiber wound dressing loaded with melatonin
    Mirmajidi T, Chogan F, Rezayan AH, Sharifi AM
    Int J Pharm, 2021 Mar 01;596:120213.
    PMID: 33493599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120213
    Wound healing is a complicated process that takes a long time to complete. The three-layer nanofiber wound dressing containing melatonin is highly expected to show remarkable wound repair by reducing the wound healing time. In this study, chitosan (Cs)-polycaprolactone (PCL)/ polyvinylalcohol (PVA)-melatonin (MEL)/ chitosan-polycaprolactone three-layer nanofiber wound dressing was prepared by electrospinning for melatonin sustained release. The characteristics of the wound dressing were further evaluated. The wound dressing had a high water uptake after 24 h (401%), and the water contact angle results showed that it had hydrophilicity effect that supported the cell attachment. The wound healing effect of wound dressing was examined using a full-thickness excisional model of rat skin by the local administration of MEL. The gene expressions of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I (COL1A1), and collagen type III (COL3A1) were further studied. The histopathological evaluation showed the complete regeneration of the epithelial layer, remodeling of wounds, collagen synthesis, and reduction in inflammatory cells. The NF + 20% MEL significantly increased TGF-β1, COL1A1, COL3A1, and α-SMA mRNA expressions. This wound dressing may have a considerable potential as a wound dressing to accelerate the wound healing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth
  18. Fulltext In-vitro and in-vivo validation of ethnopharmacological uses of methanol extract of Isodon rugosus Wall. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae)
    Janbaz KH, Arif J, Saqib F, Imran I, Ashraf M, Zia-Ul-Haq M, et al.
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014 Feb 22;14:71.
    PMID: 24559094 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-71
    BACKGROUND: Isodon rugosus is used in folk Pakistan traditional practices to cure ailments related to gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Present study was undertaken to validate these folkloric uses.

    METHODS: A crude methanol extract of the aerial parts of Isodon rugosus (Ir.Cr.) was used for both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The plant extract was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum preparations for possible presence of spasmolytic activity. Moreover, isolated rabbit tracheal and aorta preparations were used to ascertain the relaxant effects of the extract. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Ir.Cr were also determined as well as its antioxidant activity. The in vivo antiemetic activity of the extract was evaluated by using the chick emesis model, while the analgesic and antipyretic activities were conducted on albino mice.

    RESULTS: The application of the crude extract of I. rugosus to isolated rabbit jejunum preparations exhibited relaxant effect (0.01-0.3 mg/ml). The Ir.Cr also relaxed K+(80 m M)-induced spastic contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations and shifted the Ca+2 concentration response curves towards right (0.01-0.3 mg/ml). Similarly, the extract, when applied to the isolated rabbit tracheal preparations relaxed the carbachol (1 μM)--as well as K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in a concentration range of 0.01-1.0 mg/ml. Moreover, it also relaxed (0.01-3.0 mg/ml) the phenylephrine (1 μM)- and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit aorta preparations. The Ir.Cr (80 mg/kg) demonstrated antipyretic activity on pyrogen-induced pyrexia in rabbits as compared to aspirin as standard drug. The Ir.Cr also exhibited anti-oxidant as well as inhibitory effect on acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase and lipoxygenase (0.5 mg/ml).

    CONCLUSIONS: The observed relaxant effect on isolated rabbit jejunum, trachea and aorta preparations caused by Ir.Cr is possibly to be mediated through Ca+2 channel blockade and therefore may provided scientific basis to validate the folkloric uses of the plant in the management of gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. The observed antioxidant activity as well as the lipoxygenase inhibitory activity may validate its traditional use in pain and inflammations.

    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth/drug effects*
  19. Incidence of acute atherosis in complete molar pregnancy
    Hayati AR, Azizah A, Wahidah A
    Malays J Pathol, 1998 Dec;20(2):113-4.
    PMID: 10879273
    A clinicohistological study of acute atherosis in molar pregnancy was undertaken. Maternal decidual vessels in currettage samples of 38 histologically confirmed complete hydatidiform moles were examined histologically for acute atherosis, recognised as fibrinoid necrosis of the smooth muscle wall with a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate, with or without lipophages. Acute atherosis was detected in eight of 38 cases, an incidence of 18.4%. All the patients were normotensive. The significance of acute atherosis in molar pregnancy remains to be clarified.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
  20. Influence of indomethacin on histamine- and acetylcholine-induced responses in the intact and denuded epithelium of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle
    Akbar A, Sharma JN
    Pharmacol Res, 1992 Apr;25(3):279-86.
    PMID: 1518772
    We have investigated the effect of indomethacin on histamine- and acetylcholine (ACh)-induced responses in the intact and denuded epithelium of guinea pig isolated tracheal smooth muscle. Epithelium removal resulted in increased responsiveness to ACh and histamine. Indomethacin (2.8 microM) enhanced the sensitivity of both intact and denuded preparations to histamine and ACh. These findings suggest that the tracheal epithelium of guinea pig plays a protective role against bronchoconstrictors, such as ACh and histamine. Furthermore, indomethacin-mediated hyperresponsiveness caused by these agonists in epithelium denuded preparations might be a reflection of removal of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis. A similar process of interaction in indomethacin-treated asthmatic patients (with damaged airway epithelium) might take place. The significance of these findings is discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle, Smooth/drug effects*
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