Reduction of ACh-induced contraction of rat isolated ileum by coptisine, (+)-caffeoylmalic acid, Chelidonium majus, and Corydalis lutea extracts

The crude extracts of Chelidonium majus and Corydalis lutea were examined for antispasmodic activity against acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction on isolated rat ileal smooth muscle, Further, coptisine and caffeoylmalic acid as components of the alkaloid and the hydroxycinnamic acid ester fraction of both plants were similarly investigated. The ACh-induced contraction was found to be antagonized weakly by caffeoylmalic acid (6.9%; 2.5 x 10(-5) g/ml organ bath), C. majus extract (12.7%; 2.0 x 10(-4) g/ml), and a higher concentration of coptisine (16.5%; 1,0 x 10(-5) g/ml) whereas the antispasmodic activity of C. lutea extract reached 45% (2.0 x 10(-4) g/ml), Antagonism by papaverine as a positive control amounted to 83.2%.