Inhibitory activity of ginger rhizome on airway and uterine smooth muscle preparations
Document Type
Article
Department
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
In this study, we describe the tracheal-relaxant and tocolytic activities of the methanol (ME) and aqueous (AQ) crude extracts of ginger (rhizome of Zingiber officinale) in an attempt to rationalize its traditional use in disorders of airways and uterine hyperactivity. Both of the ginger extracts dose-dependently relaxed K+ (80 mM) and carbachol (CCh, 1 μM)-induced contractions with more potency against K+, similar to that elicited by verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker. In isolated uterine preparations, the extracts suppressed the K+-induced contractions with respective EC50 values of 0.03 mg/ml (0.02–0.05, 95% CI) and 0.05 mg/ml (0.04–0.06). Activity-directed fractionation of AQ yielded an organic and an aqueous fraction with the activities concentrated in the former. Both the crude extracts were found safe in mice up to the oral dose of 5 g/kg when tested for acute toxicity for 24 h. The study shows that ginger possesses tracheal and uterine smooth muscle relaxant activity, possibility mediated via Ca2+ channel blockade, justifying its use in disorders such as asthma, cough as well as in dysmenorrhoea and uterine and menstrual spasms and congestion.
Publication (Name of Journal)
European Food Research and Technology
Recommended Citation
Ghayur, M. N.,
Gilani, A. H.
(2007). Inhibitory activity of ginger rhizome on airway and uterine smooth muscle preparations. European Food Research and Technology, 477-481.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_bbs/245