Calcium antagonistic effects of Bambusa Rigida investigated by 45Ca and its protection on myocardial ischemia of rats

An investigation was conducted using 45Ca as a radioactive tracer to evaluate calcium antagonistic effects of several extracts from Bambusa Rigida in living rats. The relationship between the flavonoid and saccharide contents of Bambusa Rigida and calcium antagonistic effects were also analyzed. The protective effects of the alkali extracts of Bambusa Rigida on myocardial ischemia were investigated in living rats. The results indicated that the alkali extracts of Bambusa Rigida had a prominent influence on Ca2+ influx and efflux in the isolated rat aorta and heart, as they could obviously block 45Ca entering into cells and stimulate efflux of intracellular Ca2+. Moreover, the alkali extracts of Bambusa Rigida had favorable protective effects on myocardial ischemia induced either by isoproterenol injection (ISO) or by the ligation of coronary artery. These results implied that the Bambusa Rigida had attractive potential for the treatment of heart, cerebrovascular and other diseases. However, the conclusion that whether the flavonoid or saccharide in Bambusa Rigida affected the calcium antagonistic effects and Ca2+ channels or not was hard to make within the results of the investigation.