Hypotensive activity of terpenes found in essential oils.
The cardiovascular activity of essential oils has been reported. Some studies showed that the main chemical components of these oils contribute to their pharmacological activity. Therefore, the cardiovascular activity of four monoterpenes and one sesquiterpene was evaluated in the present work. In non-anaesthetized normotensive rats, (+)-alpha-pinene, (-)-beta-pinene, (+/-)-citronellol and (+/-)-linalool (1, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.v.) induced hypotension [maximal effect: (-35 +/- 3)%, (-46 +/- 4)%, (-48 +/- 2)% and (-40 +/- 2)%, respectively; n=6] and tachycardia [maximal effect: (13 +/- 4)%, (16 +/- 7)%, (21 +/- 1)% and (19 +/- 3)%, respectively; n=6] while (-)-a-bisabolol (1, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.v.) induced hypotension [maximal effect: (-47 +/- 8)%, n=6] and bradycardia [maximal effect: (-57 +/- 3)%]. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that all terpenes tested had hypotensive activity in rats and that the pharmacological effect of the terpene alcohols was more effective than that of the terpene hydrocarbons.
Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n Jardim Rosa Elze, CEP 49.100-000, São Cristovão, SE, Brazil.
Igor A C
IA
Menezes
Carmélia M N
CM
Barreto
Angelo R
AR
Antoniolli
Márcio R V
MR
Santos
Damião P
DP
de Sousa
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013729:Terpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; C004497:bisabolol; C022131:cremophor; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C010789:beta-pinene; C005451:alpha-pinene