Pharmacological Action of Leaves of Plumeria acuminata

Abstract

The effects of an aqueous extract (FX) of Plumeira acuminata (Frangipani) leaves on various isolated tissue preparations were tested. FX relaxed guinea-pig taenia caeci and contracted rat vas deferens. Phentolamine but not propranolol antagonized these responses. FX alone increased spontaneous activity of rabbit ileum. In the presence of atropine, FX decreased spontaneous activity, a response which was antagonized by phentolamine but not by propranolol. FX decreased the force of spontaneous contractions of rat atria. Atropine antagonized this response.

These results suggest that FX has an agonist action on α but not on β₁ or β₂ adrenoceptors and a cholinergic agonist action.

Key Word Index

Plumeria acuminata - Apocynaceae - α-Adrenoceptors - Cholinergic agonist action