A study of some Iraqi medicinal plants for their spasmolytic and ; a study of some Iraqi medicinal plants for their spasmolytic and ; antibacterial activities

الملخص EN

Objective: Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine in Iraq for the treatment of urinary tract disease; The crude extract of thirteen plants were studied in vitro for their possible spsmolytic effects, and antibacterial activity Methods: Antibacterial sensitivity test disks were prepared from the aqueous extract of the tested plants, and from the oil of Nigella sativa.

Isolated rabbit jejunum was set up in tyrod’s solution, and the effect of extracts on the height of intestinal contraction was measured Results: only Asparagus officinalis, and Apium graveolens showed a wide zone of inhibition of E.coli growth in concentration of 5%, while oil of Nigella sativa showed only a narrow zone of inhibition in concentration of 10%.All test plants caused relaxation of spontaneous contractions of isolated smooth muscle except Citrulls colocynthis schard which increased the height, and the rate of contractions.

Conclusions: our data indicate that only Asparagus officinalis, and to less extend Apium graveolens, have antibacterial effect against F.coli ,and also have spasmolytic activity, while Citrulls colocynthis schard has neither antibacterial nor antispasmodic effects.

The other test plants showed variable spasmolytic effect .The results support the traditional use of test plants except with Citrulls colocynthis schard in urinary tract diseases.

Further studies may be done to investigate the effects of those extracts on related conditions such as urinary stones.