Tocolytic activity of the Lippia alba essential oil and its major constituents, citral and limonene, on the isolated uterus of rats

Nov 18, 2018Chemico-biological interactions

Lippia alba essential oil and its main parts, citral and limonene, reduce uterine contractions in isolated rat uterus

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Abstract

Essential oil from Lippia alba significantly relaxed rat uterine smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner.

The essential oil, citral, and limonene all induced relaxation of uterine muscle strips pre-contracted with various agents.
Cumulative concentration curves demonstrated that effective concentrations ranged from 1-600 μg/mL for EOLa and citral, and 1-1200 μg/mL for limonene.
Relaxation was associated with the inhibition of L-type voltage-operated calcium channels.
No involvement of potassium channels or cyclooxygenase was observed in the relaxation effects.

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The species Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown belongs to the Verbenaceae family. It is abundant and grows spontaneously throughout the Brazilian territory. Popularly known as "erva-cidreira", it is widely used because of its sedative, carminative and analgesic properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of the L. alba essential oil (EOLa) and its major constituents citral and limonene, on isolated rat uterus muscle. To evaluate the EOLa, citral and limonene effect, cumulative concentrations curves for EOLa and citral (1-600 μg/mL) and for limonene (1-1200 μg/mL) were constructed from contractions of rat uterine strips under a 1 g tension. EOLa, citral and limonene dose-dependently relaxed myometrial preparations pre-contracted with 60 mM KCl, 10-2 IU/mL oxytocin, serotonin (10 μM), or ACh (10 μM). The results demonstrate that the EOLa, citral and limonene cause relaxation of the uterine smooth muscle. These results suggest that the relaxation induced by EOLa, citral and limonene is caused by inhibition of L-type VOCC, inhibiting the Cacurrent through these channels, although other mechanisms of action are likely to contributing to relaxant activity. There was no involvement of Kchannels (BKca, K, K) or cyclooxygenase on the relaxation promoted by EOLa. Then studies of the tocolytic effects of EOLa, citral and limonene may yield new insights into their therapeutic use. 2+ + ATP V

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Tocolytic activity of the Lippia alba essential oil and its major constituents, citral and limonene, on the isolated uterus of rats

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