title: Minor components with smooth muscle relaxing properties from scented myrrh (Commiphora guidotti).
abstract: All sesquiterpenes present in a sample of scented myrrh were isolated and characterised. Seven compounds, with cadinane, guaiane, oplopane, and eudesmane skeletons, were obtained, of which two are new and two are reported from a natural source for the first time. The major component, T-cadinol, has previously been shown to possess smooth muscle-relaxing properties, and the major purpose of the investigation was to compare the effects of the minor and more polar sesquiterpenes with that of T-cadinol in the rat aorta. Like T-cadinol, the minor sesquiterpenes are more efficient in reducing K(+)-induced contractions than those induced by the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, however, they were all less potent than T-cadinol.
authors.affiliation: Division of Organic Chemistry 2, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bergendorff
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zygmunt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sterner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C072576:T-cadinol; D011188:Potassium