Antispasmodic effects of the essential oil of Croton zehnteneri, anethole, and estragole, on tracheal smooth muscle

Abstract

Croton zehntneri is a plant well adapted to the semi-arid climate of northeastern region of Brazil. The essential oil of C. zehntneri (EOCz) has been described to have several pharmacologic properties, including effect on airflow resistance of in vivo respiratory system. For this reason, we investigated the hypothesis that EOCz and its major constituents, anethole and estragole, have antispasmodic activity on tracheal muscle. In tracheal rings of Wistar rats, maintained in Krebs-Henseleit's solution, EOCz, anethole and estragole inhibited contractions induced by 60mM [K þ ], ACh (10μM), Ba 2þ and Phorbol dibutirate (1 μM). For EOCz, anethole and estragole, the IC 50 for inhibition of KCl-induced contractions were 145.8 AE 14.8, 89.9 AE 7.4 and 181.0 AE 23.3 μg/mL, respectively, and for ACh-induced contraction, they were 606.1 AE 122.0, 160.5 AE 33.0 and 358.6 AE 49.2 μg/mL. Pharmacodynamic efficacy was maximal in all cases. These data in Ba 2þ -induced contraction and the differential IC 50 suggested that blockade of Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels (VDCC) is a component of the mechanism of action of the three agents. Evaluation of the direct effect of anethole, on VDCC, showed inhibition of the Ca 2þ current through this type of channel. These results show that EOCz and the constituents have antispasmodic activity and the mechanism includes blockade of VDCC channels.

Essential Oil of Croton zehntneri Prevents Conduction Alterations Produced by Diabetes Mellitus on Vagus Nerve

“…The EOCz showed the main following constituents: anethole, estragol (9.53%), bicyclogermacrene (3.98%) and myrcene (1.95%). The other constituents showed individual values inferior to 1.0%, as previously described [ 56 ]. The experiments were done between 2011 and 2012.…”

“…EOCz has also been shown to induce the relaxation of several types of smooth muscles so far investigated, such as: tracheal [ 56 ], ileum and portal vein [ 57 ], and corpora cavernosa [ 58 ]. In addition, eugenol, a monoterpenoid similar to anethole, which is the major constituent of EOCz, has been documented to have vasorelaxant activity [ 59 , 60 ].…”

“…The extraction method and the composition analysis of the sample of EOCz employed in the present study has been previously published [ 56 ]. Briefly, Croton zehntneri were collected near the city of Viçosa (lat.…”

“…Subsequently, the leaves were put in a semi-industrial essential oil extractor (model MA 480, Marconi equipment, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil) that uses a water steam distillation method. The mixture of water and essential oil vapor was collected in a condenser connected to the extractor, the essential oil was separated from aqueous phases, and it was stored in a freezer (approximately −20 °C) in amber glasses until use [ 56 ].…”

First Report on the Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Preliminary Toxicity to Artemia salina L. of Croton campinarensis Secco, A. Rosário & PE Berry (Euphorbiaceae) Essential Oil, and In Silico Study

“…The EOs of species of the genus Croton are characterized by different chemical classes of compounds, with a predominance of terpenoids and phenylpropanoids [ 20 ]. Compounds such as limonene, ( E )-caryophyllene, spathulenol, bicyclogermacrene, germacrene D, ( E )-anathole, and estragol are common components of EOs of Croton species [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”