Antispasmodic Effect of Ephedra Major on Adrenergic Receptors in the Rat Uterus

Medicinal applicaitions of Ephedra containing products are increasing due to their favorable properties, including energytic, fat burning, decongestant etc. Because of the presence of α and β adrenoceptors in the reproductive system and lack of systematic research on this issue, we conducted this study to determine the Ephedra Major Host (E. Major).  The effect of hydroethanolic extract on  the reproductive system was studied to reveal the underlying mechanism for the constricting effect. Isolated uterus from 24 virgin female Wistar rats (BW 220±30 g) were tested in the organ bath. Rats were anesthetized and uterus was removed and placed in De Jalon solution with bubbled 95% O2 and 5% CO2 after which it was cut into segment of 2-3 cm and then mounted in 25 ml organ bath chamber chamber; constructive response recorded in 4 groups. All of animals received an injection of oestradiol valerate (0.5 mg/kg, sc) 24 h prior to the experiment. Statistical compression was made by student s t-test and ANOVA using SPSS Ver.19. P≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Half Maximal Effective concentration was calculated by Lab Chart Ver.7 software. E. Major extract had a relaxant effect on rat uterus. The cumulative concentration of E. Major (0.00625-3 mg/ml) relaxed the KCl-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner (P≤0.05). The inhibitory effect of extract was unaffected by phenoxybenzamine as an α antagonist but propranolol as a β antagonist inhibited the relaxant effect of extract on uterus. Our findings showed the role of relaxant and inhibitory effect of E. Major extract, involving adrenergic receptors. Alternatively, these results support the beneficiary potential of this plant in traditional medicine.