Phytother Res. 1999 Mar; 13(2): 106-10.

Effects of extracts of seed and leaf of Piper guineense on skeletal muscle activity in rat and frog.

Udoh FV, Lot TY, Braide VB.

Department of Pharmacology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

The pharmacological effects of leaf and seed extracts of Piper guineense were investigated on phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm activity following electrical stimulation in vitro. The Leaf and seed extracts (10 micrograms-1 mg/mL) and (50-800 micrograms/mL) respectively produced biphasic effects consisting of an initial enhancement followed by secondary transient or prolonged depression of twitch tension in response to electrical stimulation of both muscle and nerve. These effects were similar to that of decamethonium (2-800 mg/mL). An increased concentration of extracellular Ca2+ in vitro reversed the twitch contraction inhibited by the leaf and seed extracts in a dose related pattern following electrical stimulation. It is concluded that the leaf and seed extracts of Piper guineense possess among other pharmacological properties, a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking action.