title: Antispasmodic activity of essential oil from Lippia dulcis Trev.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Free University Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2+4, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Görnemann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nayal
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Pertz
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Melzig
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D043587:Receptor, Muscarinic M3; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D011738:Pyrilamine