Abstract: | The pharmacological activity of the dichloromethanol extract of Schinus molle L. (SM-DCM) was analysed in in vitro models. Preincubation of the isolated guinea-pig ileum or rat uterus preparations with the extract (100 μg/mL) abolished the contractile effects of histamine and serotonin respectively. At the same dose, the extract partially reduced the contractile effects of acetylcholine on the isolated rat duodenum. A 10 μg/mL dose showed an inhibitory effect on histamine and serotonin, but not on acetylcholine-induced contractions (NS). No significant effect was found with a 1 μg/mL dose. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |