PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF THE ROOT OF CISSAMPELOS-SYMPODIALIS EICHL IN GUINEA-PIG TRACHEAL STRIPS AND BRONCHOALVEOLAR LEUKOCYTES

The aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the root of Cissampelos sympodialis, reduced the spontaneous tone, and inhibited the contract ions induced by submaximal concentrations of carbachol, histamine, pro staglandin Fz, and substance P, in guinea-pig tracheal preparations. T he fraction was approximately equipotent to aminophylline and the ICS, values of the above agents varied from 13.9 to 95.5 mu g/mL, dependin g on the agonist used, In concentrations ranging from 1-100 mu g/mL, t he fraction also increased the intracellular levels of cyclic adenosin e monophosphate in guinea-pig bronchoalveolar leucocytes, It is propos ed that the combined effects on smooth muscles and on leucocytes indic ate a pharmacological basis for the use of the plant in asthma.