Effect of Flos carthami Extract and α (1)-Adrenergic Antagonists on the Porcine Proximal Ureteral Peristalsis

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been proposed to prevent urolithiasis. In China, Flos carthami (FC, also known as Carthamus tinctorius) (Safflower; Chinese name: Hong Hua/紅花) has been used to treat urological diseases for centuries. We previously performed a screening and confirmed the in vivo antilithic effect of FC extract. Here, ex vivo organ bath experiment was further performed to study the effect of FC extract on the inhibition of phenylepinephrine (PE) (10(−4) and 10(−3) M) ureteral peristalsis of porcine ureters with several α (1)-adrenergic antagonists (doxazosin, tamsulosin, and terazosin) as experimental controls. The results showed that doxazosin, tamsulosin, and terazosin dose (approximately 4.5 × 10(−6) − 4.5 × 10(−1) μg/mL) dependently inhibited both 10(−4) and 10(−3) M PE-induced ureteral peristalsis. FC extract achieved 6.2% ± 10.1%, 21.8% ± 6.8%, and 24.0% ± 5.6% inhibitions of 10(−4) M PE-induced peristalsis at doses of 5 × 10(3), 1 × 10(4), and 2 × 10(4) μg/mL, respectively, since FC extract was unable to completely inhibit PE-induced ureteral peristalsis, suggesting the antilithic effect of FC extract is related to mechanisms other than modulation of ureteral peristalsis.