<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis) and related plants are commonly used in Chinese and Japanese folk medicine. Bioactive natural products derived from them are believed to possess a variety of biologic activities. We have analyzed two polysaccharide fractions from leaves of Fallopia sachalinensis. We have focused on its activities to experimentally induced cough reflex and the changes of specific airway resistance. We have compared the observed antitussive activity with cough suppressing activity of codeine ("positive" control) and effect acquired after application of water for injection ("negative" control) using conscious male guinea pigs individually placed in a double chambers bodyplethysmograph box. Peroral administration of both polysaccharides significantly inhibited the number of coughs induced by citric acid in guinea pigs and have not significantly changed the values of specific airway resistance. Moreover, the substances in experimental animals have not provoked any notable adverse events. The biological activity observed in derivatives of Fallopia sachalinensis provides a scientific basis for the use of the plant in traditional medicines.</abstract>

Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Martin

Institute of Chemistry, Center for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Antitussive Activity of Extracts from Fallopia Sachalinensis

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors may have significant clinical benefit in respiratory diseases associated with inflammation. The aim was to evaluate effects of selective PDE7 inhibitor (BRL50481) on citric acid induced cough, <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic> airway smooth muscle reactivity in both healthy and ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs, as well as its effectiveness in changes of blood cells count.Tested drugs were administered intraperitoneally to male guinea pigs once daily for 7 days either vehicle 10% DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) 3 ml/kg (as control) or BRL50481 1 mg/kg. Double chamber whole body plethysmograph was used for evaluation of citric acid (0.6 M) induced cough and specific airway resistance. Organ bath method was used for measurement of tracheal and lung tissue strips contractions evoked by cumulative doses (10-8 - 10-3 mol/L) of acetylcholine (ACH) and histamine (HIS).In healthy guinea pigs we did not observe significant effect of tested drug BRL50481 on <italic>in vitro</italic> contractions (similarly to <italic>in vivo</italic> conditions). The effect on cough was in healthy animals negligible. In ovalbumin-sensitized animals, more pronounced <italic>in vitro</italic> relaxing effect of BRL50481 in HIS induced contractions was observed with similar results <italic>in vivo</italic> and no significant change in number of cough efforts.Our results suggest that PDE7 inhibitors have stronger anti-inflammatory effect compared to its direct effect on smooth muscle and cough.</abstract>

Department of Pharmacology Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin

Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic

Selective Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7) by BRL50481 in Healthy and Ovalbumin-Sensitized Guinea Pigs

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The study discusses the problem of role of various substances in the mechanisms of contraction and relaxation of human term pregnant myometrium in the experimental <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions.Human myometrium tissue samples were collected from term pregnant women who had to undergo Caesarean section. The effects of potassium ion channels openers and closers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and tachykinins were measured in the reactivity of human term pregnant myometrium in the experimental <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions.Specific agonist-opener of KATP potassium ion channels - pinacidil significantly reduced contractile activity of human term pregnant myometrial strips induced by administration of oxytocin in <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions, while the effect of specific agonist-opener of BKCa2+ potassium ion channels - NS1619 was not significant. Glibenclamide, specific KATP potassium ion channels antagonist-closer significantly increased contractile activity of human term pregnant myometrial strips in <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions. The contractile effect of specific antagonist-closer of BKCa2+ potassium ion channels - tetraethylammonium was not significant. Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor - rolipram and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor - sildenaphil led to statistically significant decrease of oxytocin-induced contractile activity in human term pregnant myometrial strips in <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions. Tachykinins - neurokinin A, neurokinin B and substance P markedly stimulated the activity of the human term pregnant myometrial strips in <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions.The results showed the different effectiveness of potassium ion channels openers and closers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors as well as tachykinins in the mechanisms of contraction and relaxation of human term pregnant myometrium in <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions.</abstract>

Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin

Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine and Martin University Hospital, Martin, Slovak Republic

Mechanisms of Contraction and Relaxation in Human Term Pregnant Myometrium

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The herbal polysaccharides have been the subject of many studies for a very long time, especially because of their physical properties, chemical and physical modification and application. <italic>Adhatoda vasica</italic> has also been traditionally included in preparations for the relief of cough, asthma and bronchitis recommended by Ayurvedic physicians for the management of various types of respiratory disorders. In this study, we have focused on activities of pectic arabinogalactans isolated from <italic>Adhatoda vasica</italic> on experimentally induced cough reflex and the changes of specific airway resistance <italic>in vivo</italic> conditions. The substance from leaves of <italic>Adhatoda vasica</italic> was marked as P-601 and the substance from stem bark of this shrub as P-602. The aim of presented study was to compare the antitussive activity of isolated arabinogalactans with cough suppressive activity of codeine ("positive" control) and effect acquired after application of water for injection ("negative" control). Conscious male Trik guinea pigs (200-350g) were exposed to citric acid aerosol. Peroral administration of these substances in a dose of 50 mg.kg-1 body weight decreased the number of citric acid induced cough efforts in guinea pigs more effectively than codeine. They did not induce any significant changes in the values of specific airway resistance and did not provoke any observable adverse effects. Our test results confirmed that polysaccharides isolated from <italic>Adhatoda vasica in vivo</italic> conditions have expressive antitussive effect compared with the oldest and the most effective cough suppressive agent - the codeine. The positive thing is the studied substances, despite strong supressive activity, did not induced any adverse side effects.</abstract>

Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, The University of Burdwan, India

Antitussive Effect of a Pectic Arabinogalactans Isolated from Adhatoda Vasica in Vivo Experimental Conditions

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Previously, we declared important role of ATP-sensitive (KATP) and calcium-sensitive (BKCa) potassium ion channels in cough and other defence reflexes of the airways coupled with reactivity of airways smooth muscle (ASM) and suggested their potential use as antitussives and antiasthmatic drugs.The aim of presented studies was prove whether openers of potassium ion channels, KATP - pinacidil and BKCa - NS 1619, inhibit the cough reflex and modulate the ASM reactivity in conditions of experimental allergic inflammation of the airways in guinea pigs and if their influence on airways defence reflexes is changed by developing airways inflammation. Presented studies were realized in 4 partial experimental procedures with unsensitized guinea pigs and animal on 7th, 14th and 21th day of sensitization. Allergic inflammation of airways was induced by repetitive exposure of guinea pigs to ovalbumine and the degree of allergic inflammation was determined by histological analysis of tracheal and pulmonary samples. The cough reflex was induced by 0, 3 M citric acid aerosol for 3 min interval in which total number of coughs was counted. ASM reactivity <italic>in vivo</italic> was expressed as values of specific airway resistance (R. V) calculated by Pennock.The cough response on the citric acid was significantly increased on 7th and 14th days of sensitization. The experiments showed persistent cough suppressive effect of pinacidil almost similar to codeine. The antitussive activity of NS 1619 remained only on 7th day of sensitization similar to its effect in group of unsensitized animals. Sensitization by ovalbumine gradually increased the values of R. V on bronchoprovoking agent citric acid. Pinacidil suppressed R. V values of both, unsensitized and sensitized animals, more significantly than salbutamol. In unsensitized guinea pigs, NS 1619 significantly reduced R. V values, but allergic inflammation attenuated its bronchodilatory activity on 7th and 14th days. Histological analysis of specimens showed increasing signs of allergic inflammation during sensitization procedure as well as significant proinflammatory effect of pinacidil and NS 1619. Introduction of non-selective KATP agonists in clinical practice is strongly limited due to proinflammatory effect, but KATP of ASM represents a rational therapeutic target for novel drugs - tissue selective agonists of KATP.</abstract>

Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic

Relationship Between Potassium Ion Channels and Airways Defence Reflexes Influenced by Experimentally Induced Allergic Inflammation in Guinea Pigs

AHEAD OF PRINT

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Acta Medica Martiniana

 Acta Medica Martiniana is a medical scientific journal, first published in print form in December 2001. It is a continuation of the journal / almanac Folia Medica Martiniana (1971 - 1996). The journal‘s owner is the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Slovakia. The aims and scope of the AMM:   Dissemination of research results and scientific knowledge from all areas of medicine and nursing.  Stimulation, facilitation and supporting of publication activity for the young medical research and clinical generation. The contributions of young novice authors (PhD students and post-doctorials) are particularly welcome.   Acta Medica Martiniana (AMM) publishes, and here only in English, high quality original papers (in extenso and short-rapid communications), case reports as well as review articles.  Acta Medica Martiniana is an open-access journal, with a periodicity of publishing three times per year (Apr/Aug/Dec). It covers a wide range of basic medical disciplines, such as anatomy, histology, biochemistry, human physiology, pharmacology, etc., as well as all clinical areas incl. preventive medicine, public health and nursing. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manuscripts, including papers from all areas of biomedical research, are welcome.  All articles are submitted to a peer-review process. They are peer-reviewed anonymously (double blind) by external experts pursuant to the standard evaluation criteria. Based on the reviewers opinions, the Editorial Board will decide whether a paper is to be included in the journal.  Rejection Rate:   15-30%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 