Relaxant effect of carvacrol, citronellal and p-cymene, monoterpenes present in Thymus and Cymbopogon species, in guinea-pig trachea: A comparative study

Abstract

Respiratory diseases are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in worldwide. One of most important respiratory disease is asthma, which the current treatment is based on use of β 2 -agonists combined to inhaled corticosteroids. However, in recent years, many in vitro studies have attempted to validate the use of aromatic medicinal plants and its chemical compounds, such as monoterpenes, as potential therapeutically alternatives. In this work it was demonstrated that three different monoterpenes (carvacrol, citronellal and p-cymene) has relaxant effect in guinea-pig trachea, somehow showing different profile regarding epithelium presence, potency and efficacy.