Carvacrol-Loaded Nanoemulsion Promotes Tocolytic and Anti-Dysmenorrhea Effects in Rodents
Mirla Rossana Nogueira Mourão1, Cícero André Ferreira Macedo2, Tiago Feitosa Ribeiro3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), Petrolina,, Brazil.
Introduction:
Carvacrol is a phenolic constituent of essential oils that has antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.
Method:
This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro spasmolytic and in vivo anti-dysmenorrhea potential of a nanoemulsion-containing carvacrol (nanoCARV).
Results:
In isolated rat uterus, nanoCARV reduced spontaneous contractions (pEC50 = 3.91 ± 0.25) and relaxed preparations pre-contracted with oxytocin (pEC50 = 3.78 ± 0.2), carbachol (pEC50 = 4.15 ± 0.4), prostaglandin F2α (pEC50 = 3.00 ± 0.36), and KCl (pEC50 = 3.98 ± 0.32). The investigation of the mechanism of action revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the pEC50 values of nanoCARV in the absence or presence of aminophylline or tetraethylammonium. In a primary dysmenorrhea model, treatment with nanoCARV reduced the number of oxytocin-induced abdominal writhes.
Conclusions:
These data indicate that the anti-dysmenorrhea effect of nanoCARV may be related to the relaxation of uterine smooth muscle, with participation of the cAMP signaling pathway and potassium channels.
