Antispasmodic Activity of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Peel Extract on Rat Ileum

Onion (allium cepa) bulb from liliaceae has antioxidant, spasmolytic and antihypertensiveactivities, the aim of present study was to investigate the antispasmodic effect of onion peelon rat ileum contractility, onion peel powder was extracted by maceration in 70% alcohol for72 h. a terminal portion of ileum from male wistar rat was dissected and its contractions wererecorded isotonically in an organ bath containing tyrode solution (37°c) under 1 g tension,extract cumulative concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml) reduced the ileum contractionsinduced by kcl (60 mm) and carbachol (10 (mu)m) dose-dependently (p(less than)o.oooi). the extractantispasmodic effect was not reduced by tissue incubation with propranolol (1 (mu)m, 30 min),naloxone (1 mm, 30 min), l-name (100mm, 20 min), glibenc1amide (10 mm, 5 min) neitherby tetraethylammonium (1 mm, 5 min). in ca^2free with high k^+ (60 rom) tyrode solution,extract reduced the ileum contractions induced by cacl2 dose-dependently (p(less than)0.05, p(less than)o.oi).onion peel extract inhibits ileum contractions without involving p-adrenoceptor, opioid receptor,nitric oxide production, and potassium channels activation. it is suggested that quercetin inonion peel extract induces spasmolytic effect via calcium channels.