Effects of extracts of ginkgo, onion, and celery on the contractility of isolated rat atria.

ABSTRACT

The acute negative inotropic and chronotropic effects of the commercial extract of ginkgo leaf (Gingium(®)) and ethanolic extracts of onion bulbs and celery root on spontaneous and noradrenalin-stimulated contractions of the Wistar rat atria were investigated. All analyzed extracts exerted negative inotropic effects on the isolated rat atria. Among the tested extracts, the extract of ginkgo showed the strongest negative inotropic effects on rat atria, either in spontaneous or noradrenalin-induced contractions, being more potent than the onion and celery extracts, respectively.