Department of Biology and Biotechnology, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Preferred Abstract (Original):
Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is
traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this
medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were
studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts
showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous
contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water
extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of
the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration
of 5.5X10-6M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract
probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.