Antispasmodic activity of Physalis alkekengi L. leaf hydroalcoholic extract on rat ileum

Physalis alkekengi L. fruit (from Solanaceae) shows diuretic and laxative activities. The aim of present study was to investigate the antispasmodic effect of hydroalcoholic leaf extract on rat ileum contractility. Leaf powder of Physalis alkekengi was extracted by maceration in 70% alcohol for 72 h. A terminal portion of male Wistar rat ileum was dissected and its contractions were recorded isotonically in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution (37 ºC, pH 7.4) under 1 g tension. The results showed cumulative concentrations of the extract (0.25-2 mg/ml) reduced the ileum contraction induced by KCl (60 mM) or by carbachol (10μM) dose-dependently (P<0.0001). The antispasmodic effect of extract at 1 mg/ml was attenuated (P<0.01) by incubation with propranolol (1μM, 30 min) but was not affected by tissue incubation with naloxone (1μM, 30 min) and L-NAME (100μM, 20 min). In Ca2+-free with high K+ (60mM) Tyrode solution, the extract (0.5-2mg/ml) reduced the ileum contractions induced by cumulative concentrations of CaCl2 dose-dependently (P<0.05- P<0.01). Physalis alkekengi leaf hydroalcoholic extract inhibited rat ileum contractions neither by involving opioid receptors nor by NO synthesis. It seems that partially β-adrenoceptors and mainly the calcium channels are involved in the spasmolytic effect of the extract.