SPASMOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF SOME PLANTS USED IN MEXICAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

The present investigation describes the effect on the isolated rat ile um of methanolic extracts derived from Conyza filaginoides (D. C.) Hie ron (Asteraceae), Croton fragilis HBK. (Euphorbiaceae), Dodonaea visco sa Jacq. (Sapindaceae), Gymnosperma glutinosum (Spreng) Less. (Asterac eae), Parthenium tomentosum DC. var. stramonium (Greene) Rollins (Aste raceae), Potentilla thurberi A. Gray (Rosaceae), Pterogonum atrorubens (Englem.) H. Gross (Polygonaceae), Zornia venosa Mohlenbr, (Fabaceae) and Datura lanosa Barclay ex Bye (Solanaceae). In all the cases the e xtracts inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, the spontaneou s contraction of the intestinal smooth muscle. The most active extract was that of D. viscosa. These findings tend to support the ethnomedic al use of the selected species as spasmolytic agents in Mexican tradit ional medicine. Additionally, the potential antimicrobial activity of the extracts against pathogenic enterobacteria was investigated. Seven of the nine plants evaluated displayed antibacterial effects.