Abstract
Rumex vesicarius L. has traditionally been used in folkloric medicine to manage respiratory disorders. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of aqueous-methanol extract of R. vesicarius on isolated rabbit tracheal preparations, an attempt to validate its folkloric use in traditional medicine for respiratory ailment. The application of the extract to isolated rabbit tracheal preparations relaxed completely the carbachol-(1 μM) induced contractions (0.01 to 3.0 mg/mL) as well as K+-(80 mM) induced contractions (0.01 to 5.0 mg/mL). These effects were found comparable to that of dicyclomine, as an antagonist of muscarinic receptors as well as a possible Ca++ channel blocker. The previously mentioned findings may partially justify the folkloric use of R. vesicarius in the management of conditions pertaining bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and airy way congestion.
Key words: Rumex vesicarius, asthma, trachea, congestion, dicyclomine.
