Peppermint and caraway oils have muscle inhibitory and pro‐secretory activity in the human intestine in vitro

Abstract

Background: Herbal medicinal products with a broad activity spectrum may be promising alternatives to treat functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD). Menthacarin ® is a drug with a fixed combination of peppermint and caraway oils, which is clinically used to treat FGD-associated symptoms. Materials:We studied the effects of peppermint and caraway oils on contractile and secretory activity in 255 human small and large intestinal preparations derived from surgical resections (73 patients). Motility was recorded in circular smooth muscle strips and secretion with the Ussing chamber-voltage clamp technique. Electrical field stimulation evoked nerve induced contractile responses.Key Results: Peppermint and caraway oil concentrations dependently inhibited muscle contractility as indicated by sustained muscle relaxation and decrease in phasic contractility. These effects occurred in small and large intestinal preparations with IC 50 values ranging between 17 and 90 µg/mL for peppermint oil and between 7 and 127 µg/mL for caraway oil. Neither peppermint nor caraway oil influenced the nerve evoked contractile response. The inhibition of contractile activity, but not the muscle relaxation, was prevented by the L-type calcium channel activator Bay K8644 but not by the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin. Both peppermint oil and caraway oil increased epithelial secretion, which remained in tetrodotoxin. Conclusion & Interference:The findings revealed a strong muscle inhibitory and prosecretory action of peppermint and caraway oils at clinically relevant concentrations.Both actions were nerve-independent. The inhibition of contractility was mediated by inhibition of L-type calcium channels. The effects on muscle and epithelial activity may contribute to the beneficial effects observed in patients with FGD.

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“…Its only antipode namely (-)-Carvone has been reported as antispasmodic in guinea pig ileum by reducing contractions induced by histamine, carbachol and BaCl 2 (Souza et al, 2013). Moreover, caraway fruit extract stimulated the proximal and distal stomach motility in the guinea pig (Krueger et al, 2020). Furthermore, antagonism of irritable colon/stomach and diarrheal conditions by use of F. vulgare in folklore and Ayurvedic medicine system has been emphasized (Badgujar et al, 2014).…”

Menthacarin for long-term treatment of functional dyspepsia – Results from a clinical trial follow-up

“…The pharmacological effect of these two essential oils on the digestive process and gastrointestinal motility have already been the subject of careful non-clinical and clinical studies. In various basic science studies as well as in human pharmacological studies, a spasmolytic action on smooth muscle was demonstrated for peppermint oil due to its calcium-antagonistic properties, while caraway oil shows antimeteoric and choleretic effects and decreases the muscular tone [18,19,20,21,22,23]. Moreover, peppermint oil has shown choleretic [24] and direct analgesic properties through inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels [25,26] and activation of the cold receptor TRPM8 [27].…”

Menthacarin, a Proprietary Peppermint Oil and Caraway Oil Combination, Improves Multiple Complaints in Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In specimens of surgically resected human intestines, peppermint oil as well as caraway oil inhibited muscle contractility, as indicated by sustained muscle relaxation and decrease in phasic contractility. These effects occurred in small and large intestinal preparations by inhibition of L-type calcium channels [11]. Normalizing motility by reducing spasms contributes to reduced intensity or elimination of epigastric and abdominal pain.…”

“…A combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil is of particular interest in FD and IBS because the reported mechanistic studies suggest a synergistic as well as an additive effect of the combination against the sensation of abdominal pain and bloating by a multitarget approach [11][12][13][14][15][16]. The German IBS guideline [17] specifically recommends peppermint oil for the treatment of pain and bloating due to its proven efficacy.…”