Choleretic activity of solvent fractions of Calendula officinalis L

The purpose: to study choleretic activity of solvent fractions (butanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, and chloroform) of Calendula officinalis flowers cultivated in Russia. Materials and methods: The studies were carried out on white Wistar rats. Bile was obtained using a polyethylene cannula inserted into the general bile duct according under the thiopental anesthetized animals. Results. The most pronounced choleretic property was shown for the butanol fraction which increased bile secretion at 27-47% compared to the control followed by the hexane fraction (20%), chloroform fraction (12%) and ethyl acetate fraction (10%). The choleretic reaction remained at a high level throughout the 4 hours after the introduction of butanol and hexane fractions. The stimulating effect on the synthesis and release of cholates is most pronounced for the ethyl acetate fraction, followed by butanol, chloroform and hexane fractions. Conclusions. Pronounced choleretic effect of butanol fraction of Calendula officinalis flowers was due to the high content of flavonoids (35-40%), which are the main class of compounds of this fraction.