Pharmacodynamic study of interaction of aqueous leaf extract of psidium guajava linn. (myrtaceae) with receptor systems using isolated tissue preparations

*Corresponding Author:

Rajani Mathur
Department of Pharmacology, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi‑110 017, India
E‑mail: mathurajani@gmail.com

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Abstract

The present study investigates the interaction of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava with muscarinic, serotonergic and adrenergic receptor system using isolated rat ileum, gastric fundus and trachea, respectively. The concentration-dependent contractile response of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava was parallel and rightward of standard agonists, ACh and 5-HT indicating agonistic activity on muscarinic and serotonergic receptor systems. The inhibition of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava mediated contractions in presence of atropine (10-7 M) and ketanserin (10-6 M) confirmed the activity. Relaxant effect of PG (0.2 mg/ml) on carbachol induced pre-contracted rat tracheal chain indicated its agonistic action on adrenergic receptor system. Inhibition (P<0.05) of the action in the presence of propranolol (1 ng/ml) confirmed the activity. It may be concluded that PG possesses agonistic action on muscarinic, serotonergic and adrenergic receptor systems.

Keywords

Psidium guajava, serotonergic receptors, muscarinic receptors, adrenergic receptors, ileum, gastric fundus, tracheal chain

Herbs have always been an integral part of society, valued for both their culinary and medicinal properties. With extensive use of herbal medicine throughout the world, health practitioners should be vigilant when taking clinical histories and remain updated about the beneficial or harmful effects of these treatments. Thus continuing research is necessary to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism underlying the biological effect of herbal medicines and stimulate future pharmaceutical development of therapeutically beneficial herbal drugs [1]. Among the various herbal medicinal plants, Psidium guajava Linn. (Myrtaceae) is one of the important medicinal plant available in tropical and subtropical countries that is widely used as food and folk medicine around the world. Psidium guajava is well known for its antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal and antihyperglycemic properties [2‑5]. Pharmacological studies have also demonstrated its anticough [6], antiinflammatory [7] and antihypertensive [8] action.

However, inspite of its wide use in the treatment of various pathologies owing to its many useful pharmacological properties, the interaction of Psidium guajava with receptor systems has not been studied till now. It is well established that various physiological and pathological conditions are mediated by agonists and antagonists acting via muscarinic, serotonergic and adrenergic receptor systems [9‑11]. Therefore, it becomes imperative to study the interaction of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava, (PG), with muscarinic, serotonergic and adrenergic receptor systems so as to provide pharmacological basis for its therapeutic use, and the present study addresses this lacuna.

Fresh leaves of Psidium guajava L. were collected, identified (NHCP/NBPGR/2010‑33), weighed, washed, dried under shade and powdered. The leaf powder was mixed with distilled water (1/10 w/v) and refluxed at 100° for 1 h. The extract was filtered, frozen (‑30º) and lyophilized (‑70º), under vacuum) and the yield of lyophilized powder, PG was calculated as 4.76% w/w with respect to leaf powder.

Wistar albino rats weighing 150‑250 g were selected for the study. They were housed under standard laboratory conditions of temperature (25±2°) and dark:light cycle (12 h each) and fed standard laboratory chow (Pranav Agro Industries Ltd, India) and drinking water. All experimental procedures were approved by Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC/2013/19) and conducted in accordance with the same.

Overnight fasted rats with free access to drinking water were euthanized under CO₂. Following isolation, ileum was placed in oxygenated Tyrode solution (NaCl 137 mM, KCl 2.7 mM, CaCl₂ 1.8 mM, MgCl₂ 1 mM, NaHCO₃ 11.9 mM, NaH₂PO₄ 0.4 mM and glucose; 5.55 mM) whereas gastric fundus and trachea were placed in oxygenated Krebs solution (NaCl 118 mM, KCl 4.7 mM, CaCl₂ 2.5 mM, MgSO₄ 1.2 mM, NaHCO₃ 25.0 mM, KH₂PO₄ 1.2 mM and Glucose 5.55 mM). One end of the small segment (1 cm approx) of the tissue were mounted in organ bath (50 ml) maintained at 37° with aeration and the other end was tied to external isometric force transducer (Radnoti Single Channel Organ Bath, USA). Data was acquired using polyVIEW 16 (version 1.1) data acquisition system (Grass Technologies, USA) that had been previously calibrated as per the standard operating procedures provided by the manufacturer.

After mounting, the tissue was allowed to equilibrate for 30 min with repeated washing and the following concentration response curve (CRC) were recorded: a ACh (10^‑9 to 10^‑4 M); b. Ach (10^‑9 to 10^‑4 M)+atropine (10^‑7 M); c. PG (0.2 to 3.2 mg/ml) and d. PG (0.2 to 3.2 mg/ml)+atropine (10^‑7 M).

Gastric fundal strip were mounted and equilibrated and following CRC were recorded isometrically: a. 5‑HT (10^‑9 to 10^‑5 M); b. 5‑HT (10^‑9 to 10^‑5 M)+ketanserin (10^‑6 M); c. PG (4 to 64 μg/ml) and d. PG (4 to 64 μg/ml)+ketanserin (10^‑6 M).

Each trachea was sectioned to give 2‑3 C‑shaped cartilaginous rings and tied to prepare tracheal chain as per method described [12]. Equilibrated tracheal chain was pre‑contracted with sub‑maximal concentration of carbachol (selected as 10^‑5 M from 10^‑9‑10^‑4 M) and the relaxant effect of either standard isoprenaline (10^‑6 M) or PG (0.2 mg/ml) was recorded. To confirm the response, the exercise was repeated in presence of standard antagonist, propranolol (1 ng/ml). All the data are expressed as mean±SEM (n=3). Student t‑test was used to compare the two groups. Significance was accepted at P<0.05.

Both ACh and PG produced concentration dependent contractions on ileum. The log CRC of PG was right ward in comparison to log CRC of ACh (fig. 1a) and the EC₅₀ of PG (0.96±0.10 mg/ml) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of ACh (4.1±0.56× 10^‑6 mg/ml). Moreover mean maximal response of PG (515.41±18.17 mg) was found significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of ACh (1500.38±37.02 mg) (fig. 1a). In the presence of atropine (10^‑7 M), there was a right ward shift in the CRC of ACh (fig. 1b) and the EC₅₀ was significantly (P<0.05) raised from 2.23±0.31×10^‑8 to 2.92±0.24×10^‑7 M. In the presence of atropine (10^‑7 M), there was right ward shift in the CRC of PG (fig. 1c) and the EC₅₀ was increased from 0.96±0.10 to 1.31±0.06 mg/ml.

Fig 1: Cholinergic effects of PG.

5‑HT as well as PG induced concentration‑dependent contractions of gastric fundal strip. The log CRC of PG was on the right side of 5‑HT (fig. 2a) and the EC₅₀ of PG (0.019±0.002 mg/ml) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of 5‑HT (2.86±0.57×10^‑5 mg/ml). The maximal response of PG (515.41±18.17 mg) was found significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of 5‑HT (875.73±20.74 mg). In the presence of ketanserin (10^‑6 M), there was a right ward shift in the CRC of 5‑HT (fig. 2b) and the EC₅₀ of 5‑HT was significantly raised (P<0.05) from 1.17±0.07×10^‑6 to 7.05±1.41×10^‑8 M. In the presence of ketanserin (10^‑6 M), right ward shift in the CRC of PG was recorded (fig. 2c) and the EC₅₀ of PG was significantly increased (P<0.05) from 1.13±0.04×10^‑2 to 2.01±0.21×10^‑2 mg/ml.

Fig 2: Serotonergic effects of PG.

Isoprenaline (10^-6 M) exerted relaxant effects of 81.75% on rat tracheal chain precontracted with carbachol (10^-5 M). In the presence of propranolol (1 ng/ml), the relaxant effect of isoprenaline (10^-6 M) was reduced significantly (P<0.05) to 25.10% (fig. 3a). PG (0.2 mg/ml) produced relaxant effect of 74.74% on carbachol (10^‑5 M) precontracted tracheal chain. The relaxant effect was reduced significantly (P<0.05) to 22.14% in the presence of propranolol (1 ng/ml) (fig. 3b).

Fig 3: Adrenergic effects of PG.

Molecular‑cloning studies have revealed the existence of five molecularly distinct mammalian muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes, M1–M5 [13] that can be subdivided into two major functional classes according to their G‑protein coupling preference, namely M1, M3 and M5 belong to G_q/G₁₁ whereas the M2 and M4 belong to G_i/G_o family [9,13]. Both M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors are expressed in smooth muscle of gastrointestinal tract and influence contraction. M3 receptors interact with G_q to trigger phosphoinositide hydrolysis, Ca²⁺ mobilization and a direct contractile response.

In contrast, M2 receptors interact with G_i and G_o to inhibit adenylyl cyclase and Ca²⁺‑activated K⁺ channels to potentiate a Ca²⁺‑dependent, nonselective cation conductance. Ultimately, these mechanisms lead to the prediction that the influence of the M2 receptor on contraction should be conditional upon mobilization of Ca²⁺ by another receptor such as the M3. Mathematical modelling studies of these mechanisms show that the competitive antagonism of a muscarinic response mediated through activation of both M2 and M3 receptors should resemble the profile of the directly acting receptor (i.e., the M3) and not that of the conditionally acting receptor i.e., the M2 [14]. Normal function of digestive system depends in part, on normal intestinal movements. These coordinated movements are regulated by complex mechanisms involving different receptors within the gut wall and their interaction with various substances with inhibitory or excitatory effects. These receptors maintain gut reflex activity and peristalsis even when disconnected from the CNS [15]. Thus study of muscarinic and serotonergic receptors on isolated ileum and gastric fundus and various substances which affect their function is one of the leading topics in the gastroenterology research.

In our study, the affinity of aqueous leaves extracts of Psidium guajava for muscarinic receptor system was examined using isolated rat ileum. The result demonstrated that ACh as well as PG increased the contractile response in rat ileum. The contractile response induced by PG was lesser in potency as well as efficacy than ACh as the EC₅₀ value of PG was found significantly higher than ACh and maximal response significantly lesser than ACh. The EC₅₀ values of ACh as well as PG were found to be higher in the presence of muscarinic antagonist atropine as compared to those of ACh and PG alone, respectively. These finding suggest that the contractile effect of Psidium guajava is mediated partly through muscarinic receptors. However, involvement of mechanism other than muscarinic need to be confirmed using other tissue model.

Serotonin (5‑hydroxytryptamine, 5‑HT) produces its effects through a variety of membrane‑bound receptors. 5‑HT and its receptors are found both in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as in a number of non‑neuronal tissues in the gut, cardiovascular system and blood. In evolutionary terms, 5‑HT is one of the oldest neurotransmitters and has been implicated in the aetiology of numerous disease states, including depression, anxiety, social phobia, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive and panic disorders; in addition to migraine, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, eating disorders, vomiting and, more recently, irritable bowel syndrome. With the exception of the 5‑HT3 receptor, which is a ligand‑gated ion channel, 5‑HT receptors belong to the G‑protein‑coupled receptor superfamily and, with at least 14 distinct members, represent one of the most complex families of neurotransmitter receptors [16].

The serotonergic affinty of PG extract was examined and the results show that, 5‑HT as well as PG increased the contractile response in rat fundus. The contractile response induced by PG was lesser in potency as well as efficacy than 5‑HT. The EC₅₀ values of 5‑HT as well as PG were found to be significantly higher in the presence of serotonergic antagonist ketanserin as compared to those of 5‑HT and PG alone, respectively. It has been reported that ketanserin antagonizes high‑affinity responses of 5‑HT2B receptor agonist on rat gastric fundus [17]. This finding implies that PG extracts mediated the contractile effect on rat gastric fundus mainly due to the serotonergic properties of PG. The rat gastric fundus possesses contractile 5‑HT2B receptors and relaxant 5‑HT2A and 5‑HT4 receptors but is enriched with the 5‑HT2B receptor [18,19]. Unlike other members of the 5‑HT2 receptor family, the 5‑HT2B receptor in the rat stomach fundus is not coupled to phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis. It has been reported that the 5‑HT2B contractile receptor in the rat stomach fundus is coupled to calcium influx through voltage‑dependent calcium channels, intracellular calcium release, and activation of PKC. These actions may reflect a novel coupling mechanism unrelated to increases in PI hydrolysis [19]. So it seems likely that PG exerted its contratile response on gastric fundus via 5‑HT2B by coupling to calcium influx through voltage‑dependent calcium channels, intracellular calcium release, and activation of PKC.

The adrenergic system plays an important role in regulating body homeostasis in health and disease. A large number of drugs have been developed to modulate adrenergic signaling. These drugs interact with a group of adrenergic receptors, which belong to the family of G‑protein‑coupled receptors [20].

Several pathways are known to involve in the relaxation of isolated trachea including β2‑agonism, H₂‑ antagonism, NO induced relaxation and prostonoids‑induced relaxation [21‑24]. The exact cause of relaxant effect of β2‑agonists in carbachol‑contracted rat tracheal muscle is not yet clear. However, it has been reported activation of β‑adrenoceptors produces relaxation of smooth muscle tissue or a reduction in the amplitude of contractions evoked by various stimulants, and according to current views, relaxation of smooth muscle occurs when there is a significant reduction in the cytoplasmic free Ca²⁺ concentration [25] and/or when there is an inhibition of actin‑myosin interaction due to phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase [26]. So these mechanisms, may involve in β‑agonism on pre‑contracted trachea with carbachol that were observed in our study.

Furthermore, the main active constituent in the Psidium guajava is reported to be quercetin [27]. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of PG confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins and carbohydrates. Using standardized protocols of RP‑HPLC, the concentration of Quercetin in PG was found to be 8.005 μg/ml (data not shown here). Earlier, it is also known that quercetin inhibits rat tracheal contractility through a presynaptic involving nitric oxide [28]. Psidium guajava also known to contain sesquiterpenes as one of the phytocostituent [29]. Sesquiterpenes stimulate SGC which through the activation of cGMP and PKG pathway stimulate extraction of K⁺ ions thereby reduce the intrinsic Ca²⁺ ions, leading to relaxation of smooth muscles [30]. On the basis of these finding, it seems that Psidium guajava leaf extract exerts its relaxant effect on tracheal smooth muscle involving more than one mechanism that may due to the presence of several phytoconstituent in the PG extract.

It is known that β2‑agonists are used for treatment of asthma [31]. Previous findings have shown that treatment with quercetin inhibits the release of histamine and proinflammatory mediators (TNF‑α, IL‑1β, IL‑6 and IL‑8) from mast cells stimulated with IgE, likely due to inhibition of NF‑kB and mitogen‑activated protein kinase [32]. Thus, these findings pave the way for the PG in the treatment asthma. Hence from the present study it can be concluded that PG possesses agonistic action on serotonergic, adrenergic and muscarinic receptor systems.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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