Abstract

Niaz Ali*, Bashir Ahmad, Shumaila Bashir, Jehandar Shah, Sadiq Azam and Manzoor Ahmad

The effects of crude methanolic extract of Withania coagulans (Wc.cr) were studied for possible calcium channel blocking activities in rabbit’s jejunum preparations at different doses. Potassium chloride (KCl) induced contractions were also inhibited by the Wc.cr extract suggesting calcium channel blocking activity. Calcium channel blocking activity was confirmed by the right shift in the dose response curves of the tissues in calcium free tyrode’s solution. The dose response curves of the Wc.cr resemble the curves produced by verapamil, a standard calcium channel blocker. The results confirm the presence of calcium channel blocker(s) in the extract and the plant species could be a potential target for activity-guided isolation of the active moieties.