Many species of genus Salvia Fam. Lamiaceae) are commonly used in traditional medicine against a variety of diseases [1], [2]. The biological activities of some members of this genus are well known and their plant extracts have been studied for anti- bacterial, fungistatic, virustatic, astringent, eupeptic, topical anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects [3], [4], [5], [6]. Salvia cinnabarina M. Martens et Galeotti is an American species classified in the subgenus Calosphace, section Incarnatae [7]. As part of our continuing research for new pharmacologically active metabolites deriving from medicinal plants we have previously isolated a new secoisopimarane diterpenoid, namely 3,4-seco- isopimara-418),7,15-trien-3-oic acid compound 1) from the leaf exudates of aerial parts of S.cinnabarina [8]. This compound exhibited invitro non-specific intestinal spasmolytic activity [8]. Since in vitro spasmolytic activity can result in alteration of intestinal motility in vivo, in the present study we have studied the effect of this diterpenoid on upper gastrointestinal transit. Compound 1 10±100mg/kg, i.p.) or the opioid loperamide 0.1±3mg/kg, i.p.,usedasareferencedrug)producedadose-de- A Diterpenoid from Salvia cinnabarina Inhibits Mouse Intestinal Motility in vivo Raffaele Capasso 1 , Angelo A. Izzo 1 , Francesco Capasso 1 , Giovanni Romussi 2 , Angela Bisio 2 , Nicola Mascolo 1 Affiliation: 1 Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples ªFederico IIº, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy ´ 2 Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology and Alimentary, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy Correspondence: Prof. Nicola Mascolo ´ Department of Experimental Pharma- cology ´ University of Naples ªFederico IIº ´ Via D. Montesano 49 ´ 80131 Naples ´ Italy ´ Phone: +39.081.678432-465 ´ Fax: +39.081.678403 ´ E-mail: nmascolo@unina.it Received: November 3, 2003 ´ Accepted: January 10, 2004 Bibliography: PlantaMed2004;70:375±377´GeorgThiemeVerlagStuttgart´ New York ´ ISSN 0032-0943 ´ DOI 10.1055/s-2004-818954 Abstract This study was aimed to investigate the effect of 3,4 secoisopi- mara-418),7,15-trien-3-oic acid compound 1) isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia cinnabarina, on upper gastrointestinal transit in mice in vivo. Compound 1 10±100mg/kg, i.p.) dose- dependently delayed gastrointestinal motility. Pretreatment i.p.) of mice with hexamethonium 10mg/kg), naloxone 2mg/ kg), N G -nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester L-NAME) 25 mg/kg) or yohimbine1mg/kg)didnotmodifytheinhibitoryeffectofcom- pound 1 50mg/kg).However,theL-typeCa 2+ channel verapamil 5mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the antimotility effect of compound 1 50mg/kg). These results suggest that compound 1 inhibits gastrointestinal motility in mice. The effect could in- volve, at least in part, L-type Ca 2+ channels. Letter¼ Planta Med 2004; 70: 375±377 Letter 375 Heruntergeladen von: University of Pittsburgh. Urheberrechtlich geschützt.