Effects of essential oil from Radix Angelicae Sinensis on rat uterine contraction in vitro / 中成药

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the contraction effect of essential oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis on isolated uterus in rats. METHODS: Isolated uterine strips of rats were used to observe the reactions in the presence of oxytocine and high k + depolarization solution. RESULTS: The isolated rat uterus contraction induced by oxytocin and Ca 2+ after high K + depolarization was dose dependently inhibited by the essential oil. The cumulative dose response curves of CaCl 2 shifted to right and the maximal responses were depressed. This showed that the essential oil was a non competitive antagonist. The extracellular and intracellular Ca 2+ dependent contraction evoked by oxytocin could also be inhibited by the essential oil. CONCLUSION: The essential oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis could inhibit the contractility of the isolated uteri, and it might act as an Ca 2+ antagonist to relax the isolated rat uterus.