VASOACTIVE EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS FROM 5 MEXICAN MEDICINAL-PLANTS ON ISOLATED RAT AORTA

The present investigation describes the effects of aqueous extracts fr om Chiranthodendron pentadactylon flowers, Galphimia glauca leaves and flowers, Ipomoea stans roots, Juglans regia leaves and Taxodium mucro natum aerial parts on isolated rat thoracic aorta precontracted by nor adrenaline (NA). In all cases, the aqueous extracts (0.5-12 mg/ml) sig nificantly inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, the maximal contractile response induced by NA in rat aorta. The most active extr act was that of G. glauca flowers. These findings indicate that the ac tive principles present in the crude extracts can exert a vasorelaxant effect.