title: (-)-Carvone: antispasmodic effect and mode of action.
abstract: (-)-Carvone is a monoterpene ketone found in spearmint (Mentha spicata var. crispa) essential oil that is widely used as an odor and flavor additive. An intestinal antispasmodic effect was recently reported for (-)-carvone, and it has been shown to be more potent than its (+)-antipode. The mechanism of (-)-carvone action in the intestines has not been investigated. To gain a better understanding of the (-)-carvone antispasmodic effect, we investigated its pharmacological effects in the guinea pig ileum. Terminal portions of the ileum were mounted for isotonic contraction recordings. The effect of (-)-carvone was compared with that of the classical calcium channel blocker (CCB) verapamil. In isolated ileal smooth muscle, (-)-carvone did not produce direct contractile or relaxation responses and did not modify electrically elicited contractions or low K(+)-evoked contractions. The submaximal contractions induced by histamine (p<0.001), BaCl2 (p<0.05), and carbachol (p<0.01) were significantly reduced by (-)-carvone. The contractile response elicited by high concentrations of carbachol was reduced but not abolished by (-)-carvone. No additive action was detected with co-incubation of (-)-carvone and verapamil on carbachol-induced contraction. (-)-Carvone reduced the contraction induced by high K(+) and was almost 100 times more potent than verapamil. Thus, (-)-carvone showed a typical and potent CCB-like action. Many effects described for both (-)-carvone and spearmint oil can be explained as a CCB-like mode of action.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábia Valéria M
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Marcelly Barbosa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.forename: Damião P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Rosilene Moretti
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Marçal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017609:Barium Compounds; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000032:analysis; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D002217:Carbachol; D002712:Chlorides; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D031337:Mentha spicata / Q000737:chemistry; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D014700:Verapamil
chemical_list: D017609:Barium Compounds; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D015221:Potassium Channels; C024986:barium chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C006923:carvone; D006632:Histamine; D002217:Carbachol; D014700:Verapamil