Augmentation of the pharmacological action of Corydalis tuber by Saussurearoot in isolated mouse ileum

To understand the meaning of blending crude drugs in Chinese medicinal pres criptions, the influence of Saussurea root on the pharmacological action of Corydalis tuber was examined. Saussurea root increased the depression of a cetylcholine-induced contraction caused by the hot water extract solution o f Corydalis tuber in mouse ileum at low dosage, which showed no direct infl uence on acetylcholine. Dehydrocostuslactone in Saussurea root was characte rized as the component having increasing activity and the relationship betw een the concentration of acetylcholine and the variation in the contraction depressed by Corydalis tuber alone or a mixture of the Corydalis tuber and dehydrocostuslactone was investigated for clarification of the mode of act ion.