CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS

FRACTIONATION OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS FOR SPASMOGENS.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the methanolic extract of Citrullus colocynthis and
its different fractions for possible spasmogenic effects on rat’s ileum model. Study Design:
An experimental study. Setting: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Medical
Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Hayatabad, Peshawar. Period: August 2016 to March
2017. Methodology: Different fractions i.e n-hexane, chloroform, Ethyl acetate, n-butanol and
aqueous fractions of methanolic extract were tried in concentrations of 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0,
3.0, 5.0, 10 and 15 mg/ml to identify the portion with maximum spasmogens. Results: Aqueous
and n-Butanol fractions showed spasmogenic effects on the spontaneous contractions of rat’s
ileal preparations at the concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/ml while at 10 and
15 mg/ml, they showed spasmolytic effects. Ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions did not
show significant spasmogenic effects, rather showed spasmolytic effects in rabbit’s jejunal
preparations with respective EC50 values of 0.1283 ± 0.007 mg/ml and 2.703 ± 0.235 mg/
ml. Respective EC50 values for spasmolytic effects of Ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions
upon KCl induced contractions were 5.37 ± 0.515 mg/ml and 12.36 ± 1.484 mg/ml. Respective
EC50 (log [Ca++] M) of ethyl acetate fraction at 1mg/ml vs control were -2.563 ± 0.04 and
-2.846 ± 0.035. Similarly, respective EC50 (Log[Ca++]M) in the absence and presence of
0.1 μM verapamil were -2.45 ± 0.06 and -1.7 ± 0.07. EC50 (log [Ca++] M) for control vs
chloroform fraction at 3 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml were -2.95 ± 0.035 vs -3.02 ± 0.03 and -3.06 ±
0.0264, respectively. Similarly, respective EC50 (Log[Ca++]M) in the absence and presence
of 0.1 μM verapamil were -2.45 ± 0.06 and -1.7 ± 0.07. Conclusion: Thus, it is concluded that
spasmogens concentrated in the residual aqueous fraction followed by n-butanol fraction while
spasmolytic constituents are concentrated in the ethyl acetate fraction followed by chloroform
fraction.