Antispasmodic and spasmogenic effects of Scolymus hispanicus and taraxasteryl acetate on isolated ileum preparations.

Taraxasteryl acetate (1) was identified as the major triterpenoid of the ethanolic extract of the root bark of Scolymus hispanicus L. Antispasmodic and spasmogenic effects of the ethanolic extract, its fractions, taraxasteryl acetate, and a fluid extract of this plant were tested on isolated rat ileum preparations. The strong biphasic responses observed suggested a possible lithuretic activity of the compounds and the fractions tested.