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Drug Res (Stuttg) 2013; 63(09): 484-488
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1347239
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Gas Chromatographic Mass Analysis and Further Pharmacological Actions of Cymbopogon proximus Essential Oil

A. M. Al-Taweel
1   Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
G. A. Fawzy
1   Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2   Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
,
S. Perveen
1   Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
K. E. H. El Tahir
1   Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 02 April 2013

accepted 30 April 2013

Publication Date:
18 June 2013 (online)

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Abstract

The present study reports Gas chromatographic mass analysis (GC-MS) as well as important biological activities of Cymbopogon proximus essential oil. The chemical composition of the essential oil of Cymbopogon proximus was investigated by GC-MS. Furthermore, the effects of Cymbopogon proximus essential oil on the cardiac parasympathetic ganglia in rats, the intra-tracheal pressure in guinea-pigs and on carrageenan-induced inflammation in the rat̓s paw, were studied. The GC-MS study led to the identification of 22 components with Piperitone representing (73.81%), Elemol (9.32%), alpha-Eudesmol (5.21%) and alpha-Terpineol (3.01%) of the oil̓s composition. The percentage protective effect of the oil on the vagus-induced bradycardia in rats was 90.1±3.1%, which represents a significant protection. As for the effect of Cymbopogon oil on bronchoconstrictors-induced increase in intra-tracheal pressure in guinea-pigs, the oil antagonized the actions of 5-HT and histamine by 80±3.7 and 93±8.3%, respectively. Pharmacological investigations using Cymbopogon oil revealed its inherent ability to possess a bronchodilator activity mediated via blockade of both histamine and serotonin receptors. It possessed a significant ganglionic blocking action and a limited anti-inflammatory activity that seemed to involve blockade of histamine and serotonin receptors in the rats’ paws.

Key words

bronchodilator activity - cymbopogon proximus - essential oil
 

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