Comparative pharmacological study of haloxylon salicornicum acute, non bunge and arthrocnemum glaucum [Del] ung-sterub on isolated skeletal muscle preparations

ABSTRACT

The two plants under investigation were reported to have some traditional uses, e.g. H. salicornicum is used by the Bedouins in the remedy of coryza and as food in time of famine, while A. Glaucum is used in the remedy of anuria and to increase menstruation. The present study examined in a comparative fashion the pharmacological effects of these plants on isolated rectus abdominis muscle of the toad and rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation through their variable extracts. Th materials used in this study were the aqueous solutions of the dried ethanolic extracts of the overground parts, the hydrochloric acid solutions of the dried chloroformic soluble alkaloidal fractions and the aqueous solutions of the dried chloroformic insoluble alkaloidal fractions of the two plants. It was found that the dried ethanolic extract of H. Salicornicum relaxed the rectus and diaphragm muscles while that of A. glaucoma stimulated both preparations. The hydrochloric acid solution of chloroformic-soluble alkaloidal fractions of both plants relaxed the rectus and rat diaphragm muscles, while the aqueous solution of the dried chloroformic insoluble alkaloidal fractions of the two plants possessed anticholinesterase activity on both the rectus and rat diaphragm muscles. These pharmacological actions can explain the reported effects of both plants and their uses in folk medicine