Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relaxant effects of asafoetida extract and its constituent umbelliprenin on guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the relaxant effects of the asafoetida (Ferula Asafoetida Oleo-Gum-Resin) and its coumarin constituent umbelliprenin on tracheal chains of guinea pigs.

Methods

The relaxant effects of three cumulative concentrations of the aqueous extract (2, 5 and 10 mg/mL), umbelliprenin (0.04, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL), theophylline (0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 mg/mL) and saline were examined by their relaxant effects on precontracted tracheal chains of guinea pig by 60 mmol/L KCl (group 1), and 10 μ mol/L methacholine (group 2).

Results

In group 1 all concentrations of theophylline and the highest concentration of the extract showed signififi cant relaxant effects compared with that of saline (P<0.01 for theophylline and P<0.05 for extract). In group 2, relaxant effects of all concentrations of theophylline, extract and two higher concentrations of umbelliprenin differed significantly compared with saline [P<0.01 for all cases except low concentration of umbelliprenin (0.04 mg/mL)]. There were no signififi cant differences between relaxant effects of the extract and theophylline in group 2. The relaxant effect of the extract in group 2 was signififi cantly greater than that of group 1 (P<0.01). The relaxant effect of the extract was significantly more potent than umbelliprenin in all groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

Conclusion

These results showed a potent relaxant effect for the asafoetida extract on tracheal smooth muscle which is, at least, in part, due to its constituent umbelliprenin. A muscarinic receptor blockade was also suggested for the extract.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Iranshahy M, Iranshahi M. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida oleogumresin), a review. J Ethnopharmacol 2011;134:1–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bandyopadhyay D, Basak B, Chatterjee A, Lai TK, Banerji A, Banerji J, et al. Saradaferin, a new sesquiterpenoid coumarin from Ferula asafoetida. Nat Prod Res 2006;20:961–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zargari A. Medicinal Plants. 6th ed. Tehran: Tehran University Publications; 1996:186.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Takeoka G. Volatile constituents of Asafoetida, Aroma active compounds in foods. Am Chem Soc 2001;33–44.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lee CL, Chiang LC, Cheng LH, Liaw CC, Abd El-Razek MH, Chang FR, et al. Influenza A (H1N1) antiviral and cytotoxic agents from Ferula assafoetida. J Nat Prod 2009;72:1568–1572.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Evans WC. Trease and evans pharmacognosy. London: W.B. Saunders; 2002:286.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dehpour AA, Ebrahimzadeh MA, Fazel NS, Mohammad NS. Antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Ferula assafoetida and its essential oil composition. Grasasy Aceites 2009;60:405–412.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Angelini P, Pagiotti R, Venanzoni R, Granetti B. Antifungal and allelopathic effects of Asafoetida against Trichoderma harzianum and Pleurotus spp. Allelopathy J 2009;23:357–368.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Saleem M, Alam A, Sultana S. Asafoetida inhibits early events of carcinogenesis: a chemopreventive study. Life Sci 2001;68:1913–1921.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Abu-Zaiton AS. Anti-diabetic activity of Ferula assafoetida extract in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Pak J Biol Sci 2010;13:97–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fatehi M, Farifteh F, Fatehi-Hassanabad Z. Antispasmodic and hypotensive effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;91:321–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kumar P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Ferula asafoetida, Syzygium aromaticum and Carum carvi and their active components against the snail Lymnaea acuminate. Chemosphere 2006;63:1568–1574.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Srinivasan K. Spices as influencers of body metabolism: an overview of three decades of research. Food Res Int 2005;38:77–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kapoor LD, ed. Handbook of Ayurvedic medicinal plants. 1st ed. Washington, D.C.: CRC Press, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ross IA, ed. Medicinal plants of the world: chemical constituents, traditional, and modern medicinal uses. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Appendino G, Maxia L, Bascope M, Houghton PJ, Sanchez-Duffhues G, Munoz E, et al. A meroterpenoid NF-kappaB inhibitor and drimane sesquiterpenoids from Asafetida. J Nat Prod 2006;69:1101–1104.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kajimoto T, Yahiro K, Nohara T. Sesquiterpenoid and disulphide derivatives from Ferula assafoetida. Phytochemistry 1989;28:1761–1763.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Barthomeuf C, Lim S, Iranshahi M, Chollet P. Umbelliprenin from Ferula szowitsiana inhibits the growth of human M4Beu metastatic pigmented malignant melanoma cells through cell-cycle arrest in G1 and induction of caspasedependent apoptosis. Phytomedicine 2008;15:103–111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Genovese S, Epifano F. Auraptene: a natural biologically active compound with multiple targets. Curr Drug Targets 2011;12:381–386.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Iranshahi M, Askari M, Sahebkar A, Hadjipavlou-Litina D. Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of the prenylated coumarin umbelliprenin. DARU J Pharmaceut Sci 2009;17:99–103.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Adamek-Guzik T, Czerniawska-Mysik G, Guzik T. Bronchial asthma-a chronic inflammatory disorder. Przegl Lek 1996;53:12–19.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Bjornsdottir US, Cypcar DM. Asthma: an inflammatory mediator soup. Allergy 1999;54Suppl 49:55–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Iranshahi M, Shahverdi AR, Mirjani R, Amin G, Shafiee A. Umbelliprenin from Ferula persica roots inhibits the red pigment production in Serratia marcescens. Z Naturforsch C 2004;59:506–508.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Boskabady MH, Khatami A, Nazari A. Possible mechanism(s) for relaxant effects of Foeniculum vulgare on guinea pig tracheal chains. Pharmazie 2004;59:561–564.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Holroyde MC. The influence of epithelium on the responsiveness of guinea-pig isolated trachea. Br J Pharmacol 1986;87:501–507.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Loenders B, Rampart M, Herman AG. Selective M3 muscarinic receptor antagonists inhibit smooth muscle contraction in rabbit trachea without increasing the release of acetylcholine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1992;263:773–779.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Buckle DR, Arch JR, Bowring NE, Foster KA, Taylor JF, Taylor SG, et al. Relaxant effects of the potassium channel activators BRL 38227 and pinacidil on guinea-pig and human airway smooth muscle, and blockade of their effects by glibenclamide and BRL 31660. Pulm Pharmacol 1993;6:77–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Laurent F, Michel A, Bonnet PA, Chapat JP, Boucard M. Evaluation of the relaxant effects of SCA40, a novel charybdotoxin-sensitive potassium channel opener, in guineapig isolated trachealis. Br J Pharmacol 1993;108:622–626.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Singhal RS, Kulkarni PR, eds. Handbook of indices of food quality and authenticity. Woodhead Publishing Food Industry and Trade; 1997:395.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Banoniri A, Mazoochi A. Determination of bioactive and fragrant molecules from leave and fruits of Ferula assafoetida L. growing in central Iran by nanoscale injection. Digest J Nanomat Biostruct 2009;4:323–328.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Boskabady MH, Jandaghi P. Relaxant effects of carvacrol on guinea pig tracheal chains and its possible mechanisms. Pharmazie 2003;58:661–663.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Boskabady MH, Rakhshandah H, Moetamedshariati V. Bronchodilatory and anticholinergic effects of Carum copticum on isolated guinea pig tracheal chains. Med J Islam Rrep Iran 1998;11:29–334.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 9177948564, Iran

    Goltaj Bayrami, Mohammad Hossein Boskabady & Zahra Gholamnezhad

  2. Biotechnology Research Center and School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 9177948576, Iran

    Mehrdad Iranshahi

Authors
  1. Goltaj Bayrami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Hossein Boskabady
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mehrdad Iranshahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zahra Gholamnezhad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Hossein Boskabady.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bayrami, G., Boskabady, M.H., Iranshahi, M. et al. Relaxant effects of asafoetida extract and its constituent umbelliprenin on guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle. Chin. J. Integr. Med. (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1550-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1550-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation