Inhibition of Neuromuscular Contractions of Human and Rat Colon by Bergamot Essential Oil and Linalool: Evidence to Support a Therapeutic Action
2020
Straface, Marilisa | Makwana, Raj | Palmer, Alexandra | Rombolà, Laura | Aleong, Joanne Chin | Morrone, Luigi Antonio | Sanger, G. J.
Bergamot essential oil (BEO) added to food and drink promotes a citrus flavour. Folklore suggests benefits on gastrointestinal functions but with little supporting evidence. BEO and major constituents (linalool, limonene, linalyl acetate) were therefore examined for any ability to influence neuromuscular contractions of human and rat colon. Circular muscle strips (macroscopically-normal human colon obtained following ethical approval at cancer surgery; Sprague–Dawley rats) were suspended in baths (Krebs solution; 37 °C; 5% CO₂ in O₂) for measurement of neuronally-mediated contractions (prevented by tetrodotoxin or atropine) evoked by electrical field stimulation (5 Hz, 0.5 ms pulse width, 10s/minute, maximally-effective voltage), or contractions evoked by KCl (submaximally-effective concentrations). BEO and each constituent concentration dependently inhibited neuronally-mediated and KCl-induced contractions. In human: apparent pIC₅₀ for BEO (volume/volume Krebs), respectively, 3.8 ± 0.3 and 4.4 ± 0.3; Iₘₐₓ 55.8% ± 4.2% and 37.5% ± 4.2%. For the constituents, the rank order of potency differed in human (linalool > limonene >> linalyl-acetate) and rat colon (linalyl-acetate > limonene = linalool), but rank order of efficacy was similar (linalool >> (BEO) = linalyl-acetate >> limonene). Thus, linalool had high efficacy but greater potency in human colon (Iₘₐₓ 76.8% ± 6.9%; pIC₅₀ 6.7 ± 0.2; n = 4) compared with rat colon (Iₘₐₓ 75.3% ± 1.9%; pIC₅₀ 5.8 ± 0.1; n = 4). The ability of BEO and linalool to inhibit human colon neuromuscular contractility provides a mechanism for use as complementary treatments of intestinal disorders.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library