Toxicity of methyl eugenol against Drosophila melanogaster and its myorelaxant activity in bronchioles isolated from Sus scrofa domesticus

This study aimed to evaluate the toxic action of methyl eugenol against Drosophila melanogaster and to evaluate the myorelaxant effect of this constituent on bronchioles isolated from swine from the Sus scrofa domesticus species. The toxicity assay was performed using the fumigation method while myorelaxant activity was assessed by the administration of increasing and cumulative concentrations (1–1000 μM) to swine bronchial rings under 1 gF tension in an organ bath precontracted with 60 mM potassium chloride (KCl) and 10 μM acetylcholine (ACh). The results showed that methyl eugenol possessed insecticidal action (LC 50 0.116 μg/mL of air). The compound showed a myorelaxant activity over bronchioles (IC 50 of 25.50±14.93 μM and 12.79±9.57 μM for KCl and ACh, respectively). This study serves as starting point for further detailed studies focusing on both the insecticidal and bronchodilatory activity of methyl eugenol.