Effects of Ylang-Ylang Oil on the Relaxation of Rat Bladder Muscles

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In cases of overactive bladders, especially hyperreflexic neurogenic bladders, that arise in patients with spine disorder above sacral micturition center, current primary treatment modalities include the administration of anticholinergics and the intermittent catheterization. Because anticholinergics have many side effects including dry mouth, the demand for new agents has been rising. This study was designed to investigate the effects of ylang-ylang (YY) essential oil, which is currently used in aromatherapy, on the relaxation of urinary bladder muscle in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isometric tension changes of isolated rat bladder muscle strips were recorded in an organ bath using a pressure transducer. Effects of YY oil were assessed on resting tension, electrical field stimulation(EFS)-, bethanechol-, ATP- and KCl-induced contraction. In order to determine the mechanism of YY oil, effects of YY oil on above all stimulations were assessed in the presence of methylene blue, L-NAME(N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) and N-ethylmaleimide. RESULTS: The contractility of strips pre-treated with YY oil was significantly decreased on all stimulation-induced contractions. There was no statistically significant difference between treated group only with YY oil and pre-treated group with YY oil and methylene blue. Similar findings were obtained when L-NAME(another NOS inhibitor) was used. When N-ethylmaleimide(c-AMP inhibitor) was employed, there was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of contraction induced by EFS, bethanechol, KCl and ATP applications. CONCLUSION: From the obtained data, the results of this study indicate that YY essential oil has relaxing effect on the bladder, and such mechanism is thought to be brought about by a pathway mediated by c-AMP.