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. 2010 Jan 13:10:2.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-10-2.

Antispasmodic and vasodilator activities of Morinda citrifolia root extract are mediated through blockade of voltage dependent calcium channels

Anwarul Hassan Gilani  1 , Saf-ur-Rehman Mandukhail, Javeid Iqbal, Masoom Yasinzai, Nauman Aziz, Aslam Khan, Najeeb-ur-Rehman
Affiliations

Antispasmodic and vasodilator activities of Morinda citrifolia root extract are mediated through blockade of voltage dependent calcium channels

Anwarul Hassan Gilani et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is an edible plant with wide range of medicinal uses. It occurs exclusively in tropical climate zone from India through Southeast Asia and Australia to Eastern Polynesia and Hawaii. The objective of this study was to explore the possible mode(s) of action for its antispasmodic, vasodilator and cardio-suppressant effects to rationalize its medicinal use in gut and cardiovascular disorders.

Methods: Isolated tissue preparations such as, rabbit jejunum, rat and rabbit aorta and guinea pig atria were used to test the antispasmodic and cardiovascular relaxant effects and the possible mode of action(s) of the 70% aqueous-ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia roots (Mc.Cr).

Results: The Mc.Cr produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous and high K(+) induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations. It also caused right ward shift in the concentration response curves of Ca(++), similar to that of verapamil. In guinea-pig right atria, Mc.Cr caused inhibition of both atrial force and rate of spontaneous contractions. In rabbit thoracic aortic preparations, Mc.Cr also suppressed contractions induced by phenylephrine (1.0 μM) in normal- Ca(++) and Ca(++)-free kreb solutions and by high K(+), similar to that of verapamil. In rat thoracic aortic preparations, Mc.Cr also relaxed the phenylephrine (1.0 μM)-induced contractions. The vasodilatory responses were not altered in the presence of L-NAME (0.1 mM) or atropine (1.0 μM) and removal of endothelium.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the spasmolytic and vasodilator effects of Mc.Cr root extract are mediated possibly through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels and release of intracellular calcium, which may explain the medicinal use of Morinda citrifolia in diarrhea and hypertension. However, more detailed studies are required to assess the safety and efficacy of this plant.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typical tracing showing inhibitory effect of crude extract of Morinda citrifolia (Mc.Cr) and verapamil on the spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Inhibitory effect of the (A) Mc.Cr and (B) verapamil on spontaneous and high K+-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations ###P < 0.001; shows a comparison of concentration-dependent effects (specified effect compared with the effect of preceding dose) on spontaneous contractions, whereas **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; show comparisons of relaxant effects on K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Concentration-response curves of Ca++ in the absence and presence of the increasing concentrations of Mc.Cr (A) and verapamil (B), constructed in Ca++-free and K+-rich (80 mM) Tyrode's solution in isolated rabbit jejunum.***P < 0.001; compared to the respective control.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Concentration-response curves showing the vasodilator effect of Mc.Cr (A) and verapamil (B) in the absence and presence of the Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.1 mM) and atropine (1 μM) and on phenylephrine (PE 1 μM) induced contractions in isolated endothelium-intact and denude rat aorta preparations. **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; shows a comparison of concentration-dependent effects(specified effect compared with the effect of preceding dose) on endothelial intact rat aorta, whereas, ωωωP < 0.001; shows a comparison of concentration-dependent effect on endothelial denuded rat aorta and æææP < 0.001; shows a comparison of concentration-dependent effect on L-NAME with endothelial intact rat aorta, ###P < 0.001; shows a comparison of concentration-dependent effect on atropine pre-treatment with endothelial intact rat aorta.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Concentration-response curves showing the vasodilator effect of Mc.Cr (A) and verapamil (B) on phenylephrine (PE 1 μM) and K+ (80 mM) induced contractions in isolated rabbit aortic preparations. #P < 0.05; ##P < 0.01; ###P < 0.001; shows a comparison of concentration-dependent effect on phenylephrine (PE 1 μM) induced contraction.*P < 0.05;**P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; show comparisons of concentration dependent effects on K+ (80 mM) induced contractions.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Typical tracing showing the increasing concentration-dependent suppression of (A) Mc.Cr and (B) verapamil on control phenylephrine (PE 1 μM) peaks in the normal- Ca++ and Ca++-free Kerb's solution.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Bar chart showing the inhibitory effects of (A) Mc.Cr and (B) verapamil on PE responses in Ca++-free Krebs solution in isolated rabbit aorta preparations. ***P < 0.001; shows a comparison of dose dependent effect on phenylephrine (PE 1 μM) rabbit aorta.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Inhibitory effect of (A) Mc.Cr and (B) verapamil on the force and rate of spontaneous contractions of isolated guinea-pig atria. #P < 0.05; ##P < 0.01; ###P < 0.001; show comparison of concentration-dependent effects on force while *P < 0.05;**P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; show comparison of concentration-dependent effects on rate of guinea-pig atria.
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