Abstract
The inhibitory effects of naringenin, eriodictyol, and luteolin (10-5 and 5 × 10-5M), previously isolated from Satureja obovata subsp. obovata var. valentina (Lamiaceae), on rat thoracic aorta were investigated. Flavonoids at the two concentrations
assayed (10-5 and 5 × 10-5 M) showed different smooth muscle relaxant behaviour in the three phases involved
in the noradrenaline (10-6 M)-induced contractions. The three flavonoids showed an inhibitory effect of the
phasic component in order of potency: luteolin > eriodictyol > naringenin. Luteolin
and eriodictyol inhibited both tonic-I and tonic-II phases associated to the inhibition
of PKC and calcium influx, respectively, whereas naringenin only inhibited the tonic-I
phase associated to inhibition of PKC.
