Preliminary Mechanistic Study on the Trachea Smooth Muscle Relaxant Activity of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Tridax Procumbens in Male Wistar Rats

OBJECTIVES: Aqueous leaf extract of Tridax procumbens (ALETP) has potent relaxant activity. However, this relaxant activity in respiratory smooth muscle remains uninvestigated. This study investigates the effect of ALETP on the contractile activity of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) in adult male Wistar rats. METHODS: Twelve male Wistar rats divided into 2 groups and were treated with either 100 mg/kg of ALETP (ALETP treatment group) or vehicle (distilled water; control group) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. Dose responses of TSM from the 2 groups to acetylcholine (10(–9) to 10(–5) M), phenylephrine (10(–9) to 10(–5) M), and potassium chloride (KCl; 10(–9) to 10(–4) M) were determined cumulatively. Furthermore, cumulative dose responses to acetylcholine (10(–9) to 10(–5) M) after pre-incubation of TSM with atropine (10(–5) M), L-NAME (10(–4) M), indomethacin (10(–4) M), and nifedipine (10(–4) M), were determined. RESULTS: Treatment with ALETP substantially inhibited TSM contraction stimulated by cumulative doses of acetylcholine, phenylephrine, and KCl. Furthermore, preincubation of TSM from the 2 groups in atropine significantly inhibited contractility in TSM. Incubation in L-NAME and indomethacin also significantly inhibited contractility in TSM of ALETP-treated rats compared to that of controls. Contractile activity of the TSM was also inhibited significantly with incubation in nifedipine in ALETP-treated rats. CONCLUSION: ALETP enhanced relaxant activity in rat TSM primarily by blocking the L-type calcium channel and promoting endothelial nitric oxide release. ALETP contains agents that may be useful in disorders of the respiratory tract.