Skip to content
2000
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Current Drug Discovery Technologies
  4. Volume 22, Issue 3
  5. Article
Volume 22, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1570-1638
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6220

Abstract

Background

is a Moroccan endemic thyme species that is traditionally used as an aromatic and medicinal plant. Several studies have demonstrated its pharmacological significance and therapeutic value.

Objective

The current study aimed to assess the vasorelaxant effect of the aqueous extract of this species.

Methods

The contractility of isolated rat aortas was investigated using the multi-well organ bath technique. This method was adapted and validated in our experimental conditions using epinephrine and hydralazine as vasoconstrictive and vasodilator agents, respectively. The application of 10 µM epinephrine induced a clear vasoconstriction of the aorta rings (Lumen reduction = 31.8±0.4%). However, hydralazine induced a dose-dependent relaxation with an EC value of 6.1±1.2 mM. For the aqueous extract of , the aortic rings were precontracted with epinephrine, and then increasing concentrations (0.125-1 mg/mL) of this extract were added cumulatively.

Results

The results have indicated extract to have a significant vasodilatory effect in a dose-dependent manner (EC = 0.52±0.03 mg/mL).

Conclusion

The findings provide preliminary evidence of the vasorelaxant effect of the aqueous extract of using a low-cost optical approach. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this effect have yet to be revealed.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cddt/10.2174/0115701638309612240726060844
2024-11-04
2025-06-17

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cddt/10.2174/0115701638309612240726060844
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. SalehiB. Abu-DarwishM.S. TarawnehA.H. CabralC. GadetskayaA.V. SalgueiroL. HosseinabadiT. RajabiS. ChandaW. Sharifi-RadM. MulaudziR.B. AyatollahiS.A. KobarfardF. Arserim-UçarD.K. Sharifi-RadJ. AtaA. BaghalpourN. ContrerasM.M. Thymus spp. plants - Food applications and phytopharmacy properties.Trends Food Sci. Technol.20198528730610.1016/j.tifs.2019.01.020
     [Google Scholar]
  2. ElbounyH. OuahziziI. BakaliA. SellamK. AlemC. A review on Moroccan thyme species: Ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and biological aspects.Egyptian Pharmaceut J202221440141010.4103/epj.epj_83_22
     [Google Scholar]
  3. El YaagoubiM. MechqoqH. El HamdaouiA. Jrv MukkuV. El MousadikA. MsandaF. El AouadN. A review on Moroccan Thymus species: Traditional uses, essential oils chemical composition and biological effects.J. Ethnopharmacol.202127811420510.1016/j.jep.2021.11420534000364
     [Google Scholar]
  4. AfonsoA.F. PereiraO.R. CardosoS.M. Health-promoting effects of Thymus phenolic-rich extracts: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumoral properties.Antioxidants20209981410.3390/antiox909081432882987
     [Google Scholar]
  5. ElbounyH. OuahziziB. SellamK. AlemC. antioxidant potential of Thymus willdenowii boiss & reut. aqueous extract and effect of its supplementation on hyperlipidemia and paraoxonase-1 arylesterase activity in high-fat diet-fed rats.Curr. Drug Ther.2023181110.2174/1574885518666230724163758
     [Google Scholar]
  6. ElbounyH. OuahziziB. SellamK. AlemC. Hypolipidemic effect of Thymus munbyanus subsp. ciliatus Greuter & Burdet.: Guinea pig as a model for tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia.J Biol Act Prod Nat202212650751310.1080/22311866.2022.2162580
     [Google Scholar]
  7. KhouyaT. RamchounM. HmidaniA. AmraniS. BenlyasM. Kasbi ChadliF. OuguerramK. AlemC. Effect of supplementation with polyphenol extract of Thymus atlanticus on paraoxonase-1 activity, insulin resistance, and lipid profile in high-fat diet-fed hamsters.J. Food Biochem.2022469e1422510.1111/jfbc.1422535575425
     [Google Scholar]
  8. ElbounyH. OuahziziB. El-guourramiO. DriouaS. MbarekA.N. SellamK. AlemC. Chemical profile and biological properties of the essential oil of Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine.S. Afr. J. Bot.202215147548010.1016/j.sajb.2022.10.028
     [Google Scholar]
  9. RamchounM. KhouyaT. AlibrahimE.A. HmidaniA. SellamK. AmraniS. HarnafiH. BenlyasM. Kasbi ChadliF. OuguerramK. AlemC. Thymus atlanticus polyphenol-rich extract regulates cholesterol metabolism by inhibiting its biosynthesis without affecting its excretion in hamsters fed a high-fat diet.Arch. Physiol. Biochem.2023129361862510.1080/13813455.2020.185430833320714
     [Google Scholar]
  10. KhouyaT. RamchounM. AmraniS. HarnafiH. RouisM. CouchieD. SimmetT. AlemC. Anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects of polyphenol-rich extracts from Thymus atlanticus: An in vitro and in vivo study.J. Ethnopharmacol.202025211247510.1016/j.jep.2019.11247531843575
     [Google Scholar]
  11. ElbounyH. OuahziziB. BekkouchO. BennaniA. AmraniS. RamchounM. SellamK. AlemC. Thymus atlanticus supplementation attenuates hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet fed guinea pigs.J. Herbs Spices Med. Plants2024301263810.1080/10496475.2023.2248908
     [Google Scholar]
  12. ElbounyH. OuahziziB. BekkouchO. BennaniA. AmraniS. RamchounM. SellamK. AlemC. Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine aqueous extract exerts lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects in hyperlipidemic guinea pigs.Cardiovasc. Hematol. Disord. Drug Targets202323425626210.2174/011871529X27086323112306374438038002
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Díaz-MartínD. Hernández-JiménezJ. Rodríguez-ValidoM. BorgesR. Measuring the contractile response of isolated tissue using an image sensor.Sensors20151549179918810.3390/s15040917925903550
     [Google Scholar]
  14. BorgesR. Díaz-MartínD. Hernández-JiménezJ.G. Rodríguez-ValidoM. BeltránB. Analyzing isolated blood vessel contraction in multi-well plates.Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol.2016389552152810.1007/s00210‑016‑1218‑626905519
     [Google Scholar]
  15. BorgesR. The rebirth of isolated organ contraction studies for drug discovery and repositioning.Drug Discov. Today20222741128113110.1016/j.drudis.2021.11.01634823003
     [Google Scholar]
  16. AlamgeerA.C. AugerC. ChabertP. LugnierC. MushtaqM.N. Schini-KerthV.B. Mechanisms underlying vasorelaxation induced in the porcine coronary arteries by Thymus linearis, Benth.J. Ethnopharmacol.201822521121910.1016/j.jep.2018.07.01030009977
     [Google Scholar]
  17. GeletaB. EyasuM. KebamoS. DebellaA. MakonnenE. AbebeA. In vitro vasodilatory effect of aqueous leaf extract of Thymus serrulatus on thoracic aorta of Guinea pigs.Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed.201551151810.1016/S2221‑1691(15)30164‑7
     [Google Scholar]
  18. GorzalczanyS. MoscatelliV. FerraroG. Artemisia copa aqueous extract as vasorelaxant and hypotensive agent.J. Ethnopharmacol.20131481566110.1016/j.jep.2013.03.06123588093
     [Google Scholar]
  19. El-AkhalJ. OliveiraA.P. BencheikhR. ValentãoP. AndradeP.B. MoratoM. Vasorelaxant mechanism of herbal extracts from Mentha suaveolens, Conyza canadensis, Teucrium polium and Salvia verbenaca in the aorta of wistar rats.Molecules20222724875210.3390/molecules2724875236557886
     [Google Scholar]
  20. EddouksM. AmssayefA. BouadidI. EL-HaidaniA. Antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of Rumex vesicarius (L.) through receptor-operated calcium channels in hypertensive rats.Cardiovasc. Hematol. Disord. Drug Targets2022221678210.2174/1871529X2266622053111030835642122
     [Google Scholar]
  21. AmssayefA. AjebliM. EddouksM. Study of the antihypertensive effect of Scorzonera undulata ssp. deliciosa in albino wistar rats.Cardiovasc. Hematol. Agents Med. Chem.202422215916710.2174/011871525724319023102416435838083883
     [Google Scholar]
  22. AmssayefA. EddouksM. Aqueous extract of Matricaria pubescens exhibits antihypertensive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats through its vasorelaxant effect.Cardiovasc. Hematol. Agents Med. Chem.201917213514310.2174/187152571766619100715141331589128
     [Google Scholar]
  23. AmssayefA. AjebliM. EddouksM. Aqueous extract of oakmoss produces antihypertensive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats through sGC-cGMP pathway.Clin. Exp. Hypertens.2021431495510.1080/10641963.2020.179708732706597
     [Google Scholar]
  24. KhouyaT. RamchounM. HmidaniA. Phytochemical analysis and bioactivity evaluation of Moroccan Thymus atlanticus (Ball) fractions.Sci Afr202111115
     [Google Scholar]
  25. ParasuramanS. Anand DavidA.V. ArulmoliR. Overviews of biological importance of quercetin: A bioactive flavonoid.Pharmacogn. Rev.20161020848910.4103/0973‑7847.19404428082789
     [Google Scholar]
  26. KhooN.K.H. WhiteC.R. Pozzo-MillerL. ZhouF. ConstanceC. InoueT. PatelR.P. ParksD.A. Dietary flavonoid quercetin stimulates vasorelaxation in aortic vessels.Free Radic. Biol. Med.201049333934710.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.04.02220423726
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Perez-VizcainoF. DuarteJ. JimenezR. Santos-BuelgaC. OsunaA. Antihypertensive effects of the flavonoid quercetin.Pharmacol. Rep.2009611677510.1016/S1734‑1140(09)70008‑819307694
     [Google Scholar]
  28. ShenY. CroftK.D. HodgsonJ.M. KyleR. LeeI.L.E. WangY. StockerR. WardN.C. Quercetin and its metabolites improve vessel function by inducing eNOS activity via phosphorylation of AMPK.Biochem. Pharmacol.20128481036104410.1016/j.bcp.2012.07.01622846602
     [Google Scholar]
  29. SánchezM. GalisteoM. VeraR. VillarI.C. ZarzueloA. TamargoJ. Pérez-VizcaínoF. DuarteJ. Quercetin downregulates NADPH oxidase, increases eNOS activity and prevents endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.J. Hypertens.2006241758410.1097/01.hjh.0000198029.22472.d916331104
     [Google Scholar]
  30. FerreiraL.G. EvoraP.R.B. CapelliniV.K. AlbuquerqueA.A. CarvalhoM.T.M. GomesR.A.S. ParoliniM.T. CelottoA.C. Effect of rosmarinic acid on the arterial blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats: Role of ACE.Phytomedicine20183815816510.1016/j.phymed.2017.02.00629425648
     [Google Scholar]
  31. ZhouH. FuB. XuB. MiX. LiG. MaC. XieJ. LiJ. WangZ. Rosmarinic acid alleviates the endothelial dysfunction induced by hydrogen peroxide in rat aortic rings via activation of AMPK.Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.201720171910.1155/2017/709190428883905
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cddt/10.2174/0115701638309612240726060844
Loading
Preliminary Characterization of the Vasorelaxant Effect of Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine using Optical Methods
Current Drug Discovery Technologies 22, E15701638309612 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701638309612240726060844
/content/journals/cddt/10.2174/0115701638309612240726060844
/content/journals/cddt/10.2174/0115701638309612240726060844
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): aqueous extract; isolated aorta; multi-well plate; optical methods; Thymus atlanticus; vasorelaxation

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test