Abstract
This study describes the vasorelaxant potential of some pure compounds isolated from Phlomis bracteosa L.: marrubiin, phlomeoic acid, and two new constituents labeled as RA and RB. In rat thoracic aortic rings denuded of endothelium, marrubiin, phlomeoic acid, RA, and RB caused relaxation of high K+ (80 mM) and phenylephrine (1 μM)-induced contractions at the concentration range of 1.0-1000 μg/mL. Marrubiin, phlomeoic acid, RA, and RB concentration dependently (3.0-10 μg/mL) shifted the Ca++ curves to the right obtained in Ca++-free medium. The vasodilator effect of marrubiin, phlomeoic acid, RA, and RB was partially blocked by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in endothelium-intact aorta preparations. These results reveal that P. bracteosa constituents: marrubiin, phlomeoic acid, RA, and RB exhibit vasodilator action occurred via a combination of endothelium-independent Ca++ antagonism and endothelium-dependent Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester-sensitive nitric oxide-modulating mechanism.