Pons F, Koenig M, Michelot R, Mayer M, Frossard N
INSERM U425, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France.
Pathol Biol (Paris). 1999 Jan;47(1):73-80.
Helicidine is a biological extract prepared from the snail Helix pomatia L. and used in man as an anti-tussive agent. However, its mechanisms of action are not fully defined. In this study, we have investigated a possible relaxant effect of helicidine on guinea-pig airway smooth muscle and evaluated the role of prostanoids and airway epithelium in this relaxation. H. pomatia extract (0.001-1 mg/ml) induced a dose-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig trachea pre-contracted with histamine both in the presence and absence of tracheal epithelium. No significant difference in dose-dependency or magnitude of the relaxation was observed between tracheal segments with or without epithelium (maximal relaxant response of 35 +/- 7 and 25 +/- 7.5%, respectively). Relaxation of the trachea induced by H. pomatia extract (0.001-1 mg/ml) was inhibited by pre-treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, both in the presence or absence of tracheal epithelium. H. pomatia extract (1 mg/ml) induced a marked and significant increase in prostaglandin E2 release in tracheal segments with and without epithelium. These results indicate that helicidine possesses a broncho-relaxant activity which is independent of epithelium integrity and which is partly mediated by the release of the relaxant prostanoid, prostaglandin E2. The origin of prostaglandin E2 production in the airways remains to be defined.
海利西定是一种从罗马蜗牛（Helix pomatia L.）中提取的生物提取物，在人体中用作止咳剂。然而，其作用机制尚未完全明确。在本研究中，我们研究了海利西定对豚鼠气道平滑肌的可能舒张作用，并评估了前列腺素和气道上皮在这种舒张作用中的作用。无论有无气管上皮，罗马蜗牛提取物（0.001 - 1 mg/ml）均可诱导组胺预收缩的豚鼠气管产生剂量依赖性舒张。有上皮和无上皮的气管段在舒张的剂量依赖性或幅度上未观察到显著差异（最大舒张反应分别为35±7%和25±7.5%）。无论有无气管上皮，环氧合酶抑制剂吲哚美辛预处理均可抑制罗马蜗牛提取物（0.001 - 1 mg/ml）诱导的气管舒张。罗马蜗牛提取物（1 mg/ml）可使有上皮和无上皮的气管段中前列腺素E2的释放显著增加。这些结果表明，海利西定具有支气管舒张活性，该活性与上皮完整性无关，且部分由舒张性前列腺素E2的释放介导。气道中前列腺素E2产生的来源仍有待确定。
