Ispitivanje spazmolitičkih, bronhodilatatornih, antioksidativnih i antimikrobnih efekata ekstrakata i etarskog ulja morača (Foeniculum vulgare Miller)

Abstract

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) is used for centuries in traditional medicine. The research was aimed to investigate biological, biochemical and antimicrobial properties of this plant species and its possible medicinal potential. Examination is evaluated by determining the biological activities such as studies of the effects of different extracts and essential oil on the smooth muscles of the small intestine and rat trachea, which is determined by antioxidative and antimicrobial activity. Chemical analysis of extracts and essential oil was also performed. The study is the difference between the spasmolytic activity of essential oils and extracts of the aerial parts fennel, which were collected in three different years. This study showed that extracts, especially essential oil of different kinds of ground parts of the plant showed significant relaxant effect, in spontaneous, as well as the stimulated smooth muscle contraction of trachea and small intestine of rats. The extracts and essential oil of fennel, have shown good antioxidant activity which was determined as the ability of the extracts to bind free radicals (DPPH method) and the ability of extracts and essential oils to prevent lipid peroxidation of β-carotene in the emulsion of β-carotene/linoleic acid. The extracts and essential oil of fennel, showed poor antimicrobial activity which was tested against both Gram (-) and Gram (+) bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Chemical analysis showed that the differences in the composition of the essential oil and extracts reflect their biological activity.