Muscle Relaxing Activity of Hyssopus officinalis Essential Oil on Isolated Intestinal Preparations

Abstract

The muscle relaxing activity of the essential oil of Hyssopus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) and some of its main components (isopinocamphone, limonene and β-pinene) was studied on isolated preparations of guinea-pig and rabbit intestine. The essential oil and isopinocamphone inhibited the acetylcholine- and BaCl₂-induced contractions in guinea-pig ileum in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀ 42.4 μg/ml and 61.9 μg/ml to acetylcholine; 48.3 μg/ml and 70.4 μg/ml to BaCl₂) whereas limonene or β-pinene left tissue contraction unchanged. In guinea-pig ileum H. officinalis essential oil also blocked the contractions induced by CaCl₂. In isolated rabbit jejunum the essential oil reduced the amplitude of spontaneous movements and decreased the basal tone; neither haemoglobin, methylene blue, N ^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or propranolol blocked the myorelaxant effect.

Key words

Hyssopus officinalis L. - Lamiaceae - essential oil - isopinocamphone - muscle relaxing activity

References

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