Background: Thymus daenensis traditionally have been used for treatment of diarrhea and abdominal cramps. However, so for, antispasmodic effects of Thymus daenensis has not been reported. This study for the first time investigates effect of Thymus daenensis essential oil and its hydroalcoholic extract on ileum smooth muscle contractions, aiming to identify potential therapeutic applications for gastrointestinal disorders.
Methods: Male Wistar rats were euthanized, and their ileum was isolated and placed in oxygenated Tyrode's physiological solution. Contractions were recorded using a physiograph. The effects of the essential oil, extract, and atropine on contractions induced by spasmogens including KCl, acetylcholine (ACh), and electrical field stimulation (EFS)) were evaluated. Additionally, the impact of these compounds on intestinal transit in mice was assessed with three doses to determine their effectiveness in modulating gastrointestinal motility.
Findings: Both the essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract concentration-dependently inhibited ileum induced contractions. The essential oil showed stronger antispasmodic effects compared to the hydroalcoholic extract. The IC50 value of the essential oil (the concentration of the drug that produced 50% of the maximum inhibitory effect) for KCl, ACh, and EFS was calculated to be 4.5±0.5 µg/ml, 6.2±0.7 µg/ml, and 3.8±0.64 µg/ml respectively. In mice, oral administration of both compounds (50, 100, 200mg/kg) significantly reduced intestinal charcoal transit, further supporting their antispasmodic activity.
Conclusion: Thymus daenensis essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract exhibited potent and reversible relaxant effect on ileum smooth muscles, highlighting their potential for managing gastrointestinal disorders associated with spasms.