LIPOPHILIC EXTRACT FROM SABAL SERRULATA I NHIBITS CONTRACTIONS IN SMOOTH MUSCULAR TISSUE

Experiments in rat ductus deferens, guinea pig ileum and bladder were conducted in order to examine a putative smooth; muscle relaxing activ ity of lipophilic. Sabal serrulata extract. Concentration-dependent co ntractions of rat ductus deferens were inhibited following addition of greater than or equal to 0.33 mg/mL of lipophilic Sabal serrulata ext ract into the bath medium. The same was trite in deferential ducts con tracted by electrical stimulation. Guinea pig ileum and bladder were m aximally contracted in high KCI salt solution. Cumulative dosing of gr eater than or equal to 0.15 mg/mL of Sabal extract antagonized smooth muscle contracture in both preparations. The maximal relaxation induce d by 1.1 mg/mL Sabal extract was marginally enhanced if 10(-4) M/L Pra zosin and 10(-5) M/L Verapamil were supplementary added to the medium. These results speak for alpha-antagonistic as well as calcium-blockin g activities of lipophilic Sabal serrulata extract, encountered in qui te similar concentrations as those published for the so-called antiand rogenic and antiinflammatory effects. Especially the symptomatic relie f achieved in benign prostatic hyperplasia could be related to the smo oth muscle relaxing activities of lipophilic Sabal serrulata extract.