The role ofα- andβ- adrenergic receptors in the spasmolytic effects on rat ileum ofPetroselinum crispumLatifolum (parsley)

Objective:To investigatePetroselinum crispumLatifolum (parsley) for treating stomach and intestinal disorders in Iran.Methods:An80% ethanol extract was prepared from parsley seeds, and its antispasmodic activity assessed by measuring contractions of isolated ilea induced by60 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.Results: These experiments showed that parsley extract inhibited the response to 60 mMKCl in a concentration-dependent manner (P