Antispasmodic Activity of Origanum compactum

In addition to the spasmolytic activity of Origanum compactum , the antagonistic effect of the main components thymol and carvacrol is investigated on the isolated guinea-pig ileum, induced by carbachol, histamine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide and BaCl 2 . The l-noradrenaline contractions on the rat vas deferens are also reduced by both of phenols and the Origanum macerate. pD′ 2 values and relative potency to papaverine illustrate the affinity of the isomers. It is concluded that thymol and carvacrol act as non-competitive antagonists and are not significantly different from each other. Key Word Index Origanum compactum - Labiatae - Thymol - Carvacrol - Papaverine - Antispasmodic activity 1 Part 1: Planta medica, 38 , 317 (1980).