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Planta Med 1992; 58(1): 19-21
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-961381
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antispasmodic Activity of β-Damascenone and E-Phytol Isolated from Ipomoea pes-caprae

U. Pongprayoon1 , 3 , P. Baeckström2 , U. Jacobsson2 , M. Lindström2 , L. Bohlin1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 579, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
  • 2Department of Organic Chemistry, Royal Institute of Technology, S-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
  • 3Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Further Information

Publication History

1991

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The crude extract (IPA) of the plant Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br. has previously been shown to antagonize smooth muscle contractions induced by several agonists via a non-specific mechanism. Bioassay-guided fractionation of IPA resulted in isolation of the antispasmodically acting isoprenoids β-damascenone and E-phytol. Their antispasmodic potencies were found to be in the same range as that of papaverine, a general spasmolytic agent. This effect was suggested to play a role in the previously observed anti-inflammatory activity of IPA by interfering with the contraction of endothelial cells. Severe vascular contraction has been shown to be involved in the dermatitis caused by toxic jellyfishes. It is possible that β-damascenone and E-phytol, by interfering with the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells, are partly responsible for the previously reported effectiveness of IPA in the treatment of such dermatitis.

Key words

Ipomoea pes-caprae - β-damascenone - E-phytol - antispasmodic activity - permeability

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