Antispasmodic activity of essential oil from Lippia dulcis Trev.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the essential oil of Lippia dulcis Trev. (Verbenaceae) that is traditionally used in the treatment of cough, colds, bronchitis, asthma, and colic in Middle America for antispasmodic activity.


METHODS
We used a porcine bronchial bioassay to study contractile responses to carbachol and histamine in the absence or presence of the essential oil.


RESULTS
The essential oil showed anti-histaminergic and anti-cholinergic activities at 100 microg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
The anti-histaminergic and anti-cholinergic activities of the essential oil of Lippia dulcis support the rational use of the plant or plant extracts to treat bronchospasm.
Görnemann
T
T
Institute of Pharmacy, Free University Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2+4, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Nayal
R
R
Pertz
H H
HH
Melzig
M F
MF
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D032411:Lippia / Q000737:chemistry; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011738:Pyrilamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / Q000502:physiology; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D011738:Pyrilamine