Ação central do óleo essencial de Lippia Alba no controle cardiovascular

Abstract

Introduction: The Lippia alba (Mill.) NE Brown (VERBENACEAE) is a plant popularly known as Yerba Cidreira Brazilian, possessing several chemotypes elucidated responsible for its diverse use in folk medicine and in the production of herbal medicines. One of its uses is against hypertension, but the effectiveness is still not fully proven. Objective: To evaluate the hypotensive action of the essential oil of Lippia alba (OELA) and to describe the central areas involved in this response. Materials and Methods: We used 42 Wistar rats (200-250 g) aged 4-8 week, which underwent cannulation of the femoral artery, through which were measured heart rate and mean pressures, diastolic and systolic. Soon after, the animas were perfused, the brains extracted and subjected to immunofluorescence protocol for Fos protein. Results and Discussion: A significant reduction was observed (p <0.05) in heart rate. No changes were found in pessões average diastolic and systolic. By immunofluorescence observed positive Fos markings on paraventriculas region, the piriformis and cingulate cortex. Conclusion: We conclude that the OELA provides bradycardic action, possibly due by central route.