Relaxing activity of two linear diterpenes from Cystoseira brachycarpa var balearica on the contractions of intestinal preparations

Eleganolone (1) and elegandiol (2), two linear diterpenes isolated from Cystoseira brachycarpa var. balearica, were tested on guinea-pig intestinal preparations. Both these compounds inhibited the contractile activities of acetylcholine (Ach) and histamine (Hist) on ileum musculature; the relative pIC(50) values of eleganolone were found to be 4.60 +/- 0.03 and 4.84 +/- 0.20, respectively, while those of elegandiol were 4.71 +/- 0.18 and 5.18 +/- 0.01, respectively. Furthermore, 1 and 2 dose-dependently relaxed the same preparations precontracted with 300 mu M BaCl2 (pIC(50) = 4.34 +/- 0.18 for 1 and pIC(50) = 4.34 + 0.02 for 2) or with 60 mM KCl (pIC(50) = 4.73 +/- 0.18 and 4.47 +/- 0.06, respectively). On colon smooth muscle, the diterpenes inhibited the spontaneous contractile tone and this effect was reversed by both methylene blue (3 x 10(-6) M) and haemoglobin (3 x 10(-6) M). Tetraethylammonium (TEA), furosemide, N-omega- nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indomethacin, alpha-chymotrypsin, and metoprolol were unable to block the eleganolone and elegandiol relaxing action on colonic musculature, but rather potentiated this response. On the contrary, the beta(2)-blocker butoxamine partially inhibited the diterpenes activity. These results suggest that Cystoseira diterpenes act at a second messenger cyclase system rather than at a receptor level.