Antispasmodic Activity of Origanum compactum

Abstract

Medlc~nal medica ~b n t Research r ,I , ' L J , r % , li 1 I ] , \ r- AbstractOriganum compactum has been studied for antispasmodic activity, using different smooth muscle preparations of the alimentary canal in vitro: the guineapig ileum and duodenum, the rat fundus strip and duodenum. Aqueous extract of Origanum powder inhibits responses to acetylcholine, histamine, serotonine, BaCI,, I ,I-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide and nicotine in the guineapig ileum. The extract also blocks contractions elicited by electrical coaxial stimulation. Responses to cumulative increased Ca2+ concentrations in depolarizing bathing medium were also blocked. Thymol and. carvacrol were found to be the active components. The results indicate that antispasmodic activity is caused by a direct and indirect action on the smooth muscle. It is suggested that muscle relaxant effect results from a decrease of the Ca2+ availability for muscle contraction by I) blocking the release of intracellular bound Ca2+ and 2) prevention of the extracellular Ca" influx in the smooth muscle cell. Inhibition of the nerve action potential in the postganglionic nerve fibre is proposed to be the indirect action of spasmolytic activity. Downloaded by: University of Arizona Library. Copyrighted material. Address: C . 0. Van Den Broucke and /.A. Lemli Laboratorium voor Farmacognosie Instituut voor Fannaceutiscbe Wetenschappen Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven Van Evenstraat 4, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium Downloaded by: University of Arizona Library. Copyrighted material.

Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Mechanisms of Thymol: Prospects for Its Therapeutic Potential and Pharmaceutical Development

“…In rabbit white muscle, thymol (0.6 mM) induced accumulation of Ca +2 in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (Takishima et al, 1979). Thymol in 0.4% aqueous ethanol has been shown to reduce contractions (ED 50 = 0.86 × 10 -4 M) in the guinea pig ileum induced by acetylcholine (Van den Broucke and Lemli, 1980). Thymol, a Ca 2+ antagonist at the concentration of 1 × 10 -4 M, also reduced the contractions of rat vas deferens induced by 1-noradrenaline via blocking nerve fiber conductions and inhibited the contractions of guinea pig ileum induced by carbachol, histamine and dimethyl phenyl piperazinium (Van den Broucke and Lemli, 1982).…”

Amelioration of Prallethrin-Induced Oxidative Stress and Hepatotoxicity in Rat by the Administration ofOriganum majoranaEssential Oil

“…Origanum majorana L. ( O. majorana ) is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae. In folk medicine, marjoram is used for cramps, depression, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorders, migraine, nervous headaches, and paroxysmal coughs and as a diuretic [23]. It contains phenolic terpenoids (thymol, carvacrol), flavonoids (diosmetin, luteolin, and apigenin), tannins, hydroquinone, phenolic glycosides (arbutin, methyl arbutin, vitexin, and orientinthymonin), triacontane, sitosterol, acids (oleanolic acid), and cis-sabinene hydrate [24, 25].…”

Quantitative determination of phenol derivatives fromOleum thymi

“…The essential oil of thyme have been reported to possess antiseptic and spasmolytic properties as a consequence of their thymol and carvacrol content [17][18][19]. The phenols have also fungicidal and insecticidal properties [4,20,21].…”