Vasorelaxant effect of (E,E)-farnesol in human umbilical vein ex vivo assays.

(E,E)-farnesol is a sesquiterpene acyclic alcohol produced by bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals. The literature describes its applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, and also in the pharmacological context with a vasorelaxant effect. However, its effects on human umbilical vessels remain poorly investigated. Thus, this study aims to investigate, in a new way, the vasorelaxant effect of (E,E)-farnesol in human umbilical veins (HUV) from healthy donors. Rings obtained from isolated HUV were suspended in an organ bath to record their isometric tension in different experimental sections. (E,E)-farnesol (1 µmol/L to 1 mmol/L) promoted vasorelaxant effect in venous preparations contracted by depolarization (KCl 60 mmol/L) or pharmacological agonism (5-HT 10 µmol/L), with EC50 values of 239.9 µmol/L and 424 µmol/L, respectively. In calcium-free solution, this effect was also observable. (E,E)-farnesol was able to suppress contractions evoked by CaCl2 and BaCl2 suggesting a blockade of voltage-dependent (especially L-type) calcium channels. The vasorelaxant efficacy and potency of (E,E)-farnesol were affected in the presence of tetraethylammonium (1 and 10 mmol/L), glibenclamide (10 µmol/L) and BaCl2 (1 mmol/L) indicating a possible involvement of potassium channels (BKCa, KATP and KIR) in this effect. Our data suggest that (E,E)-farnesol has a promising potential to be applicable as a vasodilator in hypertensive conditions in pregnancy that alter HUV reactivity.

Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Beta-Pinene in Diabetic Rats.

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disease linked to multiple comorbidities, such as low-grade inflammation. ß-pinene, a monoterpene commonly found in aromatic plants, is endowed with anti-inflammatory effect and this fact lead us to investigate the possible hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects of the monoterpene in the alloxan-induced diabetes experimental model. Methods: Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were treated orally with ß-pinene (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) or glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), for seven consecutive days. Diabetes was induced by alloxan (40 mg/kg) through the penile vein. On the seventh day of treatment, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. The anti-inflammatory effect of ß-pinene was evaluated using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, followed by the carrageenan-induced peritonitis. Results: The treatment with ß-pinene decreased plasma glucose, triglyceride, VLDL, LDL, and HDL levels, when compared to those of the control group. In addition, the association ß-pinene 10 mg/kg + glibenclamide 2 mg/kg significantly decreased blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride level. Finally, oral treatment with ß-pinene reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema and leukocyte migration in the peritoneum. Taken together, our results indicate that ß-pinene shows hypoglycemic and hypolipemic effects, which may involve some common mechanisms of glibenclamide. Besides, the monoterpene presented an anti-inflammatory action in diabetic rats that needs further investigation in order to clarify such effect and its correlation with the alterations observed in plasma parameters of ß-pinene-treated diabetic rats.