Anticholinergic, antihistaminic, and antiserotonergic activity of n-hexane extract of Zanthoxylum alatum seeds on isolated tissue preparations: An ex vivo study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate anticholinergic, antihistaminic, and antiserotonergic activity of the n-hexane extract of the seeds of Zanthoxylum alatum (ZAHE) on isolated ileum of rat and guinea pig and fundus of rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ZAHE was prepared using soxhlet extraction and cumulative concentration response curves were constructed using various doses on the tissues for acetylcholine (ACh), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and histamine with or without n-hexane extract. Atropine, ketanserin, and pheniramine maleate were used as antagonists for ACh, serotonin, and histamine, respectively. RESULTS: ZAHE-induced concentration-dependent inhibition of isolated ileum and fundus in rat and ileum of guinea pig. The half maximal effective concentration (EC(50)) of ACh in the presence of atropine (10(−6) M; P < 0.05) and ZAHE (1000 μg/ml; P < 0.01) was significantly higher than EC(50)of ACh alone. The EC(50)of 5-HT in the presence of ketanserin (10(−5) M; P < 0.01) and ZAHE (1000 μg/ml; P < 0.05) was higher than EC(50)of 5-HT alone. Similarly, the EC(50)of histamine in the presence of pheniramine maleate (10(−6) M; P < 0.01) and ZAHE (300 μg/ml; P < 0.01 and 1000 μg/ml; P < 0.05) was also significantly higher than EC(50)of histamine alone. CONCLUSION: From the study, it was observed that ZAHE shows significant anticholinergic, antiserotonergic, and antihistaminic activity. The study provides sufficient evidence that the seeds can be used in gastric disorders, cough, chest infection, etc., as per folklore claims.