Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpene, has diverse biological activities, highlighting its antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity. However, there is little evidence demonstrating its influence on vascular regeneration. Therefore, we evaluated the modulation of carvacrol on endothelial repair induced by endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in hypertension. Twelve-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with a vehicle, carvacrol (50 or 100 mg/kg/day), or resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day) orally for four weeks. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the normotensive controls. Their systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly through the tail cuff. The EPCs were isolated from the bone marrow and peripherical circulation and were quantified by flow cytometry. The functionality of the EPC was evaluated after cultivation through the quantification of colony-forming units (CFU), evaluation of eNOS, intracellular detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and evaluation of senescence. The superior mesenteric artery was isolated to evaluate the quantification of ROS, CD34, and CD31. Treatment with carvacrol induced EPC migration, increased CFU formation and eNOS expression and activity, and reduced ROS and senescence. In addition, carvacrol reduced vascular ROS and increased CD31 and CD34 expression. This study showed that treatment with carvacrol improved the functionality of EPC, contributing to the reduction of endothelial dysfunction.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The traditional herbal medicinal product Funchicórea® has been widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of intestinal colic and constipation in newborns. However, no scientific data on the herbal product to prove its efficacy is available. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to evaluate the laxative and spasmolytic actions of Funchicórea®. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) and Swiss mice (Mus musculus) of both sex, were used. In vivo pharmacological assays were performed to evaluate the stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and in vitro studies to verify its spasmodic activity. Results: Funchicórea® increased the motility of the small intestine in male mice at doses of 100 mg/kg (161.66±14.86 %, n=6) and 200 mg/kg (151.04±17.17 %, n=6) compared to control (100.00±10.49 %, n=6). However, this drug did not induce any change in intestinal transit in female mice. The intestinal transit of male mice treated with loperamide (3 mg/kg/day, during three days) was reduced 66.25±7.49 % (n=8) compared to the control group (100.00±5.16%, n=8) and we observed the normalization of the intestinal transit in constipated animals treated with Funchicórea® 100 mg/Kg (98.42±6.33 %, and 200 mg/kg (99.32±8.47%, n=7). Similar results were observed in the quantification for 24 hours of male and female rats faeces constipated by loperamide (3 mg/kg/day three days), however, in both animals groups treated with Funchicórea® 100 mg/kg (1.24±2.90 g, male; 3.60±0.80 g, female, n=6) and 200 mg/Kg (8.70±2.01 g, male, 10.03±1.30 g, female, n=6) the levels of faeces returned to basal values compared to constipated group (4.01±1.43 g, male; 1.70±0.10 g, female, n=6). In addition, Funchicórea® (0.01-1000 μg/mL) elicited relaxation in rat ileum pre-contracted by KCl 40 mM (Emax=97.5±7.0 %, n=7) and carbachol (1 μM, Emax=100.0±7.0 %, n=7). Conclusion: The results obtained demonstrated that the herbal medicine Funchicórea® acts by stimulating the intestine of rats and mice and has spasmolytic activity in isolated rat ileum.