Ex vivo Antispasmodic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Flowers of Muntingia calabura Linn. on Excised Rabbit's Jejunum

OBJECTIVE The present study has been undertaken with the main objective of evaluating the aqueous extract of flowers of Muntingia calabura for antispasmodic activity on isolated rabbit's jejunum. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out on isolated rabbit's jejunum preparations. The aqueous extract of flowers of M. calabura was applied in different doses by cumulative manner without washing the tissue. Spontaneous contractions abolished by the extract were recorded. RESULTS In isolated rabbit's jejunum preparation, the flower extract of M. calabura inhibited the spontaneous contractions in a concentration-dependent manner with IC100 value of 36 ± 3.02 μg/mL, which is potent than the standard drug verapamil with IC100 value of 40 ± 1.02 μg/mL on the rabbit's jejunum. CONCLUSION The aqueous extract of flowers of M. calabura exhibits significant dose-dependent relaxations of spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit's jejunum preparations. SUMMARY Flowers of Muntingia calabura L. were collected, authenticated and extracted by water using soxhlet apparatus. Crude extract was qualitatively tested for the presence of phytochemical constituents and it shows the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Crude extract was quantitatively tested for its antispasmodic potential. It showed a dose-dependent relaxation of spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit's jejunum preparations and it was concluded that the aqueous flower extract of Muntingia calabura L. has potent antispasmodic activity. Abbreviations Used: IC100: Maximal inhibitory concentration, IAEC: Institutional animal ethics committee, SIMS: Southern institute of medical sciences, h: Hour, kg: Kilogram, μg: Microgram, mL: Milliliter, mM: Millimol, °C: Degree Celsius.