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Planta Med 2007; 73(13): 1365-1371
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-990236
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hypotensive Effects of Carvacrol on the Blood Pressure of Normotensive Rats

Yasemin Aydin1 , Özden Kutlay1 , Senem Ari2 , Seval Duman2 , Kubilay Uzuner1 , Süleyman Aydin2
  • 1Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Eskisehir, Turkey
  • 2Anadolu University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Eskişehir, Turkey
Further Information

Publication History

Received: June 12, 2007 Revised: July 17, 2007

Accepted: September 8, 2007

Publication Date:
09 October 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Carvacrol is the major compound of essential oils of many plants, ethnomedically used for centuries but there were no detailed investigations on its action on the cardiovascular system. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of carvacrol on the cardiovascular functions of anesthetized rats and in vitro of isolated rat aorta. Carvacrol (100 μg/kg, i. p.) decreased heart rate, mean arterial pressure and systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the anesthetized rats whereas there were no effects at 1, 10 and 20 μg/kg. Carvacrol was observed to exhibit hypotension and to inhibit N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension. The lack of inhibitory action of carvacrol (10-4 M) on the CaCl2- and phenylephrine-induced contractions of isolated rat aorta showed that neither adrenergic receptors nor voltage-dependent vascular L-type calcium channels were involved. But, based on previous investigations, the involvement of cardiac L-type calcium channel blocking actions are suggested for the hypotensive actions of carvacrol was assumed.

Key words

Monoterpenes - carvacrol - blood pressure - inhibition

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Yasemin Aydın

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Physiology

26040 Eskişehir

Turkey

Fax: +90-222-239-3772

Email: yaydin@ogu.edu.tr

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