Inhibitory Effects of Ginger Oil on Spontaneous and PGF_{2 α}-Induced Contraction of Rat Myometrium

 

 Buy Article Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Solvent extracts of ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), have been extensively studied for their pharmacological activities in smooth muscles. However, the effects of ginger essential oil on smooth muscle contractility have not been elucidated. The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of ginger oil on rat myometrial contractility. We particularly examined the effects on phasic contractions arising either spontaneously or with PGF_{2 α} stimulation. Ginger oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and its constituents analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Rats were humanely killed by asphyxiation with CO₂, and longitudinal uterine smooth muscles were isolated. Isometric force was measured and the effects of ginger oil studied. It was found that citral was the main constituent of ginger oil (24 %). Ginger oil inhibited spontaneous contractions with an IC₅₀ of 50 μL/100 mL (10 - 150 μL/100 mL). The PGF_{2 α}-induced contractions were also significantly reduced by ginger oil. Increases in external calcium concentration completely reversed the relaxant effects of ginger oil. This was the case for both spontaneous and PGF_{2 α}-induced contractions. The effects of ginger oil were indistinguishable from those of pure citral. In conclusion, ginger oil is a potent inhibitor of phasic activity in rat uterus, irrespective of how it was produced. Our data suggest that the effects are largely due to citral, and could be via inhibition of L-type Ca channels.

Abbreviations

AUC:area under the curve

Ca:calcium

PGF₂:prostaglandin F_2alpha

PKC:protein kinase C

References

• 1 Tyler V E. The honest herbal, 3 rd edition. New York; Pharmaceutical Products Press 1993: 147-8
  Google Scholar
• 2 Duke J A. Handbook of medicinal herbs. Boca Raton; CRC Press 2002: 327-9
  Google Scholar
• 3 Vernin G, Parkanyi C. Ginger oil (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). In: Charalambous G, editor Spices, herbs and edible fung. Amsterdam; Elsevier Science 1994: 579-94
  Google Scholar
• 4 Martins A P, Salgueiro L, Goncalves M J, Cunha A P, Vila R, Canigueral S. et al . Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of three Zingiberaceae from S. Tomé e Príncipe.  Planta Med. 2001;  67 580-4
  Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 5 Menut C, Lamaty G, Bessierre J M, Koudou J. Aromatic plants of tropical central Africa. XIII. Rhizomes volatile components of two Zingerberales from the Central African Republic.  J Essent Oil Res. 1994;  6 161-4
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 6 Möllenbeck S, Konig T, Schreier P, Schwab W, Rajaonarivony J, Ranarivelo L. Chemical composition and analyses of enantiomers of essential oils from Madagascar.  Flavour Fragr J. 1997;  12 63-9
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 7 Gurib-Fakim A, Maudarbaccus N, Leach D, Doimo L, Wohlmuth H. Essential oil composition of Zingiberaceae species from Mauritius.  J Essent Oil Res. 2002;  14 271-3
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 8 Ekundayo O, Laakso I, Hiltunen R. Composition of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) volatile oils from Nigeria.  Flavour Fragr J. 1998;  3 85-90
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 9 Wohlmuth H, Smith M K, Brooks L O, Myers S P, Leach D N. Essential oil composition of diploid and tetraploid clones of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) grown in Australia.  J Agric Food Chem. 2006;  54 1414-9
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 10 Lawrence B M. Progress in essential oils.  Perfumer Flavorist. 2002;  27 46-64
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 11 Langner E, Greifenberg S, Gruenwald J. Ginger: history and use.  Adv Ther. 1998;  15 25-44
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 12 Ghayur M N, Gilani A H. Ginger lowers blood pressure through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels.  J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Therapeut. 2005;  45 74-80
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 13 Connell D W, McLachlan R. Natural pungent compounds: Examination of gingerols, shogaols, paradols and related compounds by thin-layer and gas chromatography.  J Chromatogr. 1972;  67 29-35
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 14 Suekawa M, Ishige A, Yuasa K, Sudo K, Aburada M, Hosoya E. Pharmacological studies on ginger: I. Pharmacological actions of pungent constituents, 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol.  J Pharmacobio-Dyn. 1984;  7 836-48
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 15 Borrelli F, Capasso R, Aviello G, Pittler M H, Isso A A. Effectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting.  Obstet Gynecol. 2005;  105 849-56
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 16 Ernst E, Pittler M H. Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.  Br J Anaesth. 2000;  84 367-71
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 17 Kupittayanant S, Buddhakala N. The effect of ginger oil on rat uterine contraction.  Planta Med. 2006;  72 1084
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 18 Mackenzie L W, Word R A, Casey M L, Stull J T. Myosin light chain phosphorylation in human myometrial smooth muscle.  Am J Physiol. 1990;  258 C92-C8
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 19 Luckas M J, Taggart M J, Wray S. Intracellular calcium stores and agonist-induced contractions in isolated human myometrium.  Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;  181 468-76
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 20 Connell D W, Jordan R A. Composition and distinctive volatile flavour characteristics of the essential oil from Australian-grown ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) volatile oils from Nigeria.  Flavour Fragr J. 1971;  3 85-90
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 21 Macleod A J, Pieris N M. Volatile aroma constituent of Sri Lankan ginger.  Phystochemistry. 1984;  2 353-60
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 22 Asfaw N, Abegaz B. Chemical constituents of the essential oils of Zingiber officinale Roscoe cultivated in Ethiopia.  Sinet. 1995;  18 133-7
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 23 Heaton R C, Wray S, Eisner D A. Effects of metabolic inhibition and changes of intracellular pH on potassium permeability and contraction of rat uterus.  J Physiol. 1993;  465 43-56
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 24 Shmigol A V, Eisner D A, Wray S. Properties of voltage-activated [Ca²⁺]_i transients in single smooth muscle cells isolated from pregnant rat uterus.  J Physiol. 1998;  15 803-11
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 25 Kupittayanant S, Luckas M J, Wray S. Effect of inhibiting the sarcoplasmic reticulum on spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contractions of human myometrium.  Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2002;  109 289-96.
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 26 Wray S, Kupittayanant S, Shmygol A, Smith R D, Burdyga T. The physiological basis of uterine contractility: a short review.  Exp Physiol. 2001;  86 239-46
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 27 Wray S, Jones K, Kupittayanant S, Li Y, Matthew A, Monir-Bishty E. et al . Calcium signaling and uterine contractility.  J Soc Gynecol Investig. 2003;  10 252-64
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 28 Sadraei H, Ghannadi A, Malekshahi K. Relaxant effect of essential oil of Melissa officinalis and citral on rat ileum contractions.  Fitoterapia. 2003;  74 445-52
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 29 Hills N J. The mechanism of action of peppermint oil on gastrointestinal smooth muscle. An analysis using patch clamp electrophysiology and isolated tissue pharmacology in rabbit and guinea pig.  Gastroenterology. 1991;  101 55-65
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 30 Karibe H, Oishi K, Uchida M K. Involvement of protein kinase C in Ca²⁺-independent contraction of rat uterine smooth muscle.  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1991;  179 487-94
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Dr. Sajeera Kupittayanant

School of Physiology

Institute of Science

Suranaree University of Technology

Nakhon Ratchasima 30000

Thailand

Phone: +66-4422-4644

Fax: +66-4422-4633

Email: sajeera@sut.ac.th