Effects of stem bark and leaf extracts of Bridelia ferruginea on rat bladder smooth muscle

The effects of ethanol extracts of Bridelia ferruginea leaves and stem bark on purinergic neurotransmission in the rat bladder were investigated. The stem bark extract potentiated the contraction of the bladder evoked by exogenous adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) but depressed KCl-induced contractions in a dose-related pattern; these two opposite actions might account for the lack of effect on field stimulation of the bladder purinergic nerves. The leaf extract depressed purinergic nerve-mediated contraction of the rat bladder in a dose-related fashion. This action could be attributed to blockade of purinergic neurotransmission since the leaf extract did not affect KCl-induced contractions.