Effect of Drying on the Quantity and Composition of Artemisia monosperma Essential Oil and Exploring the Bronchodilator Effect Using Guinea Pig Tracheal Muscles

Artemisia monosperma is a plant with many traditional uses including some affecting smooth muscles. The A. momosperma essential oil (AMEO) prepared by hydrodistillation from fresh and dry aerial parts was compared qualitatively and quantitatively using GC/MS. The drying process affected the yield and composition of AMEO. The bronchodilator potential was explored using isolated guinea-pig trachea in ex-vivo organ bath setup. In the tracheal contractions induced by different spasmogens, AMEO was able to completely relax contractions induced by carbachol (CCh; 1 µM) and high K+ (80 mM) at closely related doses (p > 0.05) indicating a dual inhibition of phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE) and voltage-mediated L-type Ca⁺⁺ channels blocker (CCB) as papaverine. The current study provides scientific support to the medicinal use A. monosperma in respiratory disorders.