| dc.description.abstract | Dibenzylbutyrolactone-type lignans are phenolic compounds of medical importance. The purpose of the study
was to determine the effects of two such lignans, arctigenin and trachelogenin on the motility of isolated rat
ileum and obtain indications on their mechanism of action. They were isolated from Arctium lappa and Cirsium
arvense, respectively, which have been used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal disorders. 1–1.5 cm long
segments of distal ileum were obtained from adult male Wistar rats. The intestinal segments were suspended
vertically in a well-aerated organ-bath according to Magnus mounting method. The intestinal motility was
monitored for 30 min before treatment to obtain the baseline, followed by treatment with 1 µM, 10 µM, 20 µM
and 40 µM concentrations of arctigenin and 0.5 µM, 1 µM, 10 µM and 20 µM of trachelogenin concentrations. The
amplitude, tone, and period of spontaneous contractions were measured after 15 and 30 min of treatment. To
investigate their mechanism of action, cholinergic, glutamatergic, adrenergic antagonists and compounds
inhibiting nitric oxide synthase and L-type calcium channels were also tested. Arctigenin and trachelogenin
decreased the frequency of contractions in a dose-dependent manner. At the concentration of 20 µM and 40 µM of
trachelogenin and arctigenin, respectively, there was a marked alteration in spontaneous contraction pattern
with an observable increase in the period time. This activity was comparable to 0.5 µM nifedipine (L-type calcium channel blocker) treatment. Our results demonstrate relaxant effect of arctigenin and trachelogenin on the
ileum motility that may be mediated by L-type calcium ion channel blockade. | en_US |
