Isolation of amentoflavone from Selaginella rupestris and its pharmacological activity on central nervous system, smooth muscles and isolated frog heart preparations.

Amentoflavone has been isolated from the leaves of SELAGINELLA RUPESTRIS S PRING (Selaginellacae). This biflavonoid was tested for its activity on central nervous system, smooth muscles and isolated frog heart preparations. It was observed that amentoflavone did not have any effect on central nervous system of rats and mice, but it had antispasmodic effect on isolated guinea pig ileum. Amentoflavone had also increased significantly the contractility of both nor-modynamic and hypodynamic frog hearts.