Spasmolytic activity of medicinal plants used to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in the Highland of Chiapas.

Methanolic extracts of 141 different botanical species, used in traditional medicine in the Highland of Chiapas for the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, were submitted to pharmacological testing in order to evaluate the spasmolytic action on electrically-stimulated guinea pig ileum. Of these species, 33.3% showed an inhibition of reflex greater than 80% at a bath concentration of 250 μg/ml. Of the active species, 40.4% belong to the Asteraceae family. Of the active samples, 59.5% were obtained from leaves. The results identify a group of interesting plants, that could be considered for future experimental investigation.