Vasodilating effect of the root bark extract of Ficus saussureana on guinea pig aorta

The effect of the aqueous extract of the root bark of Ficus saussureana DC. (Moraceae) on KCl- and noradrenaline-induced contractions of guinea pig aortic strips was studied. The extract produced a dose-dependent relaxation of 30 mM KCl induced contraction of the aortic strips. In contrast, no significant relaxant effect was seen with noradrenaline-induced contractions. The inhibition of contractions was most significant: 62.47 ± 3.79% and 20.78 ± 3.97%, at the doses 100 and 300 μg/ml, respectively. The results suggest that the relaxation effect of the extract may be due to the blockade of the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ through voltage-operated channels into the cell.