The role of α – and β – adrenergic receptors in the spasmolytic effects on rat ileum of Petroselinum crispum Latifolum (parsley)

ObjectiveTo investigate Petroselinum crispum Latifolum (parsley) for treating stomach and intestinal disorders in Iran.MethodsAn 80% ethanol extract was prepared from parsley seeds, and its antispasmodic activity assessed by measuring contractions of isolated ilea induced by 60 mM potassium chloride (KCl). A piece of ileum from an adult male Wistar rat was dissected and mounted in an organ bath containing Tyrode's solution, and ileum contractions were recorded by an isotonic transducer under one gram resting tension. The effect of parsley extract was measured in the presence of two antagonists' of α — and β —adrenoceptors.ResultsThese experiments showed that parsley extract inhibited the response to 60 mM KCl in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.01, n=7). The spasmolytic effect of parsley extract was unaffected by 1 μ M phentolamine or 1 μ M propranolol.ConclusionThis study shows that parsley seed extract is a relaxant of isolated rat ileum and the relaxation effect of extract does not involved adrenergic receptors.