Essential oils of Cymbopogon Spreng. species - potential spasmolytic agents

Abstract

The plants of genus Cymbopogon (family Poaceae) are well known for their use in traditional medicine and for the high content of essential oils that are widely used as flavoring agents, fragrances, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Essential oils isolated from the inflorescences of Cymbopogon nervatus (Hochst.) Chiov. and C. schoenanthus (L.) Spreng. from Sudan were studied. GC-FID/MS analysis showed that C. nervatus essential oils is characterized by the high content of p-menthadienols (64.0-76.2%), whereas oils of C. schoenanthus are rich in monoterpene piperitone (47.7-58.7%). The oils were tested for spasmolytic activity on isolated rat ileum, using three different experimental models: against spontaneous contractions, contractions induced with acetylcholine and contractions induced with potassium chloride. The essential oils of both species exhibited strong, significant and dose-dependent spasmolytic activity. In addition, essential oils were investigated for antimicrobial activity by the microdilution method. Both oils were active against the strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MICs 0.85-1.3 mg/ml), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MICs 0.78-1.3 mg/ml) and Candida albicans (MICs 0.63-1.3 mg/ml), whereas Gram (-) bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were resistant. The observed spasmolytic effect of the inflorescence essential oils of C. nervatus and C. schoenanthus emphasizes its beneficial properties and is in agreement with their traditional use, especially for gastrointestinal ailments.