Effects of Cinchonine, a Cinchona Bark Alkaloid, on Spontaneous and Induced Rat Ileum Contractions

G Rankovic, V Stankovic, M Zivkovic, B Rankovic, D Laketic, M Potic, M Saranovic, G Nedin Rankovic

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2019;120(8):576-580.

PMID: 31379180

Abstract:

Aim:




Quinine, a frequently used anti-malaria alkaloid isolated from the Cinchona bark, possesses numerous toxic properties, the majority of which arrive from a dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. Similarly, cinchonine, another alkaloid from the Cinchona bark, displays a great potential for treating malaria (especially the resistant forms).













Methods:




In this work, we aimed to evaluate the effects of cinchonine on spontaneous and induced Wistar rat ileum contractions in order to uncover potential side effects that might arise after its application.













Results:




Cinchonine produced a concentration-dependent spasmolytic activity, which was found to be reversible (i.e. disappeared after tissue wash-up), with an IC50 value of 273 µM. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of cinchonine at IC50 elucidated through experiments with acetylcholine and Ca2+-induced ileum contractions. The applied IC50 concentration of cinchonine statistically significantly prevented the occurrence of contractions after the application of specific agonist. The obtained results are in a range with the effects seen with standard receptor antagonists, i.e. atropine and verapamil.













Conclusions:




The obtained results showed that cinchonine inhibited both types of induced contractions, suggesting a Ca2+-channels mediated modus operandi (Fig. 4, Ref. 19).

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP118105	(+)-Cinchonine		118-10-5	Price