Effect ofFlos carthamiExtract andα1-Adrenergic Antagonists on the Porcine Proximal Ureteral Peristalsis

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been proposed to prevent urolithiasis. In China,Flos carthami(FC, also known asCarthamus tinctorius) (Safflower; Chinese name: Hong Hua/紅花) has been used to treat urological diseases for centuries. We previously performed a screening and confirmed thein vivoantilithic effect of FC extract. Here,ex vivoorgan bath experiment was further performed to study the effect of FC extract on the inhibition of phenylepinephrine (PE) (10−4and 10−3 M) ureteral peristalsis of porcine ureters with severalα1-adrenergic antagonists (doxazosin, tamsulosin, and terazosin) as experimental controls. The results showed that doxazosin, tamsulosin, and terazosin dose (approximately 4.5 × 10−6− 4.5 × 10−1 μg/mL) dependently inhibited both 10−4and 10−3 M PE-induced ureteral peristalsis. FC extract achieved 6.2% ± 10.1%, 21.8% ± 6.8%, and 24.0% ± 5.6% inhibitions of 10−4 M PE-induced peristalsis at doses of 5 × 103, 1 × 104, and 2 × 104 μg/mL, respectively, since FC extract was unable to completely inhibit PE-induced ureteral peristalsis, suggesting the antilithic effect of FC extract is related to mechanisms other than modulation of ureteral peristalsis.