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Planta Med 1994; 60(4): 313-317
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959491
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Calcium-Antagonist Effects of Quercetin on Aortic Smooth Muscle

M. A. Morales1 , 3 , X. Lozoya2
  • 1Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
  • 2Research Unit in Pharmacology of Natural Products, National Medical Center, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México City, México
  • 3Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Jefatura de Servicios de Investigatión, Edificio Bloque “B” Unidad de Congresos, 4°Piso, Av. Cuauhtémoc 330, México, D.F. CP 06725, México
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Publication History

1993

1993

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Relaxation induced by quercetin was studied on aortic rings depolarized with KCl and on Ca2+ dependent aortic contraction. Quercetin's actions as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor were compared with those of indomethacin. To determine the possible effects of quercetin on internal Ca2+ mobilization, it was assayed on aortic muscle contracted with caffeine. Quercetin relaxes aortic smooth muscle contracted with KCl (RC50 = 1.8 × 10-4M) and induces a rightward displacement of Ca2+ curves. The relaxation induced by quercetin is higher than that produced by indomethacin, suggesting that its action is independent of cyclooxygenase inhibition. Caffeine-induced aortic contraction was not modified by quercetin, suggesting that its effect should not involve internal calcium modulation. Our results further support the thesis that the spasmolytic action of quercetin arises from its negative modulation of calcium entry to the smooth muscle.

Key words

Quercetin - flavonoids - antispasmodic calcium-antagonist - indomethacin