Apart from heart and pancreatic islets, potassium channels are widely distributed in the
smooth muscle and nerves. Several different types of K+ channels located in the above mentioned
tissues have a crucial role in the regulation of many functions. Their modulation is seriously considered
in the treatment of diseases such as hypertension, bronchial asthma, epilepsy, different kinds of pain,
and stroke. These are some of the most common and serious neurological defects that appear usually as
a consequence of untreated hypertension, and without satisfactorily up to date pharmacological
treatment. This chapter will discuss the substances related to the different kinds of potassium channels
which are currently in clinical trials or are already clinically used for treatment of above mentioned
diseases.
Keywords: Hypertension, bronchial asthma, epilepsy, pain, stroke, iptakalim, flupirtine, riluzol, andolast,
magnolol.
