Effects of essential oils on skeletal and smooth muscle in vitro.
Plant essential oils often are applied to the skin, added to bath water
or inhaled, accounting for some absorption of these components into the
bloodstream. Because there have been many claims as to the relaxing properties
of some of these oils, the effects of nine essential oils on smooth and
skeletal muscle were studied in vitro. Angelica, dill, fennel, frankincense
and nutmeg produced spasmogenic effects on smooth muscle. In the case of
clary sage, this effect was followed by a reduction in field-stimulated
contractions. Thyme and lavender had only a spasmolytic effect on smooth
muscle, and camphor produced an increase
in twitch size for smooth and skeletal muscle. Four different effects
on skeletal muscle were observed overall, wheras only contracture was observed
in smooth muscle. Researchers concluded that essential oils have selective
actions on biological tissues and that their bioactivity is not due to
non-specific toxic actions on cell membranes.
Lis-Balchin M, Hart S. "A preliminary study of the effect of essential
oils on skeletal and smooth muscle in vitro." Journal of Ethnopharmacology
1997; 58:183-187.
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