Presence of Acetylcholine-like Substance(s) in Sesamum indicum

Alcoholic extract of seeds of Sesamum indicum (SI, 1-30mg/kg) caused hypotensive action in anesthetized rats. Heart rate was also decreased at slightly higher doses (10-30 mg/kg). Pretreatment with atropine (2 mg/kg) abolished these cardiovascular responses. In isolated spontaneously beating atria from guinea-pigs. SI caused decrease in force and rate of atrial contractions. In isolated guinea-pig ileum and rat uterus, SI (100-1000 ug/ml) produced contractile responses. All these actions of SI were abolished in the presence of atropine ($1\mu$M). These results indicate that alcoholic extract of seeds of Seamum indicum contains acetylcholine-like constituent(s) which explains some of the folkloric uses of plant.