The in vitro Pharmacological Effects of Fagonia cretica Linn Ethanolic Extract on Isolated Rabbit Intestine

Abstract

The goal of this work was to use isolated rabbit intestine to evaluate the pharmacological effect(s) of the Fagonia cretica linn (Zygophyllaceae) ethanolic extract and to determine the mechanism(s) underlying its activity. The cumulative dose-response curves of Fagonia cretica extract and standard adrenaline were constructed using different doses ranging from (10^-3 - 10² µg/ml), and (10^-9 - 10^-5 M) alone, and  in the presence of a single dose of a blocker, then the values of EC₅₀, E_max and pA₂ were determined as mean ± S.E.M, and and statistically compared. The non-selective adrenergic blockers phentolamine and propranolol were utilised in concentrations of (10^-8 and 10^-5 M) to identify the exact mechanism mediating the relaxing effect of Fagonia cretica linn's ethanolic extract. Fagonia cretica had a dose-dependent relaxant action on rabbit intestine that was comparable to that of normal adrenaline,with E_max= [56.4 ± 7.5], [7.2 ± 4.3] and EC₅₀= [0.12 ± 0.27], [9.85 ± 1.6] x 10^-6 respectively. This effect was mediated by both\(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) adrenoceptors, with no direct muscle relaxant involved in mediating the relaxing effect of the plant extract.

It was suggested that more detailed research be conducted to further analyse and confirm these findings utilising various approaches.