C-fiber-evoked autonomic cardiovascular effects after injection of Piper betle inflorescence extracts.

Piper betle inflorescence extracts contain eugenol (6.2%) and safrole (78.9%). Intravenous injections of water extracts of P. betle inflorescence (PBE), eugenol, and safrole in rats induced hypotensive and bradycardiac effects, whereas both intraarterial and intrathecal injections of PBE, eugenol and safrole resulted in hypotensive and tachycardiac effects. Moreover, the effects of intravenous injections of PBE were reversed or inhibited by the pretreatment with bilateral vagotomy, atropine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.). Effects of intraarterial injections of PBE on blood pressure were inhibited by the pretreatment with substance P (SP) antagonist (1 nmol, i.t.) and clonidine (2.5 micrograms, i.t.), while heart rate was only inhibited by the pretreatment with SP antagonist (1 nmol, i.t.). In addition, the tachycardia resulting from intrathecal injections of PBE was inhibited by pretreatment with propranolol (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.). Eugenol and safrole induced the same pattern on blood pressure and heart rate changes as PBE in rats after various treatments. This report suggests that acute administration of betel inflorescence extracts by different routes may activate C-fiber-evoked parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiovascular reflexes in rats.