Study the effect of Salvia officinalis on the contraction of isolated rat portal vein

Abstract

The background and the aim: The relaxant effect of both ethanolic and aqueous  extract of Salvia officinalis (Lamiaceae) was detected on both spontaneous  and phenylephrine- induced contraction of isolated rat portal vein. Materials and methods: First, the effect of the previous extracts was examined on spontaneous contraction of longitudinal- cut  portal fibers, the extracts were added cumulatively to tissues baths. In another groups of experiments, the portal fibers were contracted by phenylephrine (P.E) and then the extracts were added similarly as previous. The changes in contraction were measured and recorded by isolated organ system (I.O.S). Results: the previous extracts exhibited profound and strong relaxant effect on both spontaneous and P.E- induced contraction of portal preparations. The ethanolic extract was clearly more potent than aqueous one. Conclusion: the two extracts of  Salvia officinalis  have obvious relaxant effect that should further investigate to illustrate the mechanisms, with isolation of related active compound(s).