Eucalyptol reduces airway hyperresponsiveness in rats following cigarette smoke-exposed.

Cigarette smoke is the major cause of airway inflammatory disease, including airway hyperresponsiveness. Eucalyptol (EUC), also named 1.8-cineole, is a monoterpenoid found in essential oil of medicinal plants, showing several biological effects.Based in the eucalyptol protective activity in respiratory diseases as asthma, our hypothesis is that eucalyptol is able to reduce the airway hyperresponsiveness and the respiratory mechanic parameters in rats exposed to cigarette smoke.Wistar rats were divided into control and cigarettes smoke (CS) groups. CS group was daily subjected to cigarette smoke and treated by inhalation for 15 min/day with EUC (1 mg/mL) or vehicle during 30 days. After treatment, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was collected to analyze the inflammatory profile, and tracheal rings were isolated for evaluation of the airway smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness. Lung function was analyzed in vivo.

The inflammatory profile was evaluated by optical microscopy performing total (Neubauer chamber) and differential leukocyte count (smear slides stained in H&E). The hyperresponsiveness was evaluated in tracheal rings contracted with potassium chloride (KCl) carbamoylcholine (CCh), or Barium chloride (BaCl₂) in presence or absence of nifedipine. The lung function (Newtonian resistance-R_N) was evaluated by bronco stimulation with methacholine (MCh).

BAL from CS group increased the influx of leukocyte, mainly neutrophils and macrophages compared to control group. EUC reduced by 71% this influx. The tracheal contractions induced by KCl, CCh or BaCl₂ were reduced by EUC in 59%, 42% and 26%, respectively. The last one was not different of nifedipine activity. Newtonian resistance (R_N) was also reduced in 37% by EUC compared to CS group. CONCLUSION: EUC reduces the hyperresponsiveness and the airway inflammatory profile, recovering the lung function.