Inhibitory Effect of Varthemia iphionoides Extract on the Contractility of Isolated Rabbit Ileum

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10 -6 M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.