Cardiovascular Pharmacology R(+)-pulegone impairs Ca 2+ homeostasis and causes negative inotropism in mammalian myocardium

article i nfo The present study aimed to investigate the inotropic effects of R(+)-pulegone, a monoterpene found in plant species belonging to the genus Mentha, on the mammalian heart. In electrically stimulated guinea pig atria, R(+)-pulegone reduced the contractile force (~83%) and decreased the contraction time measured at 50% of the maximum force amplitude (CT50) from 45.8±6.2 ms to 36.9±6.2 ms, suggesting that R(+)-pulegone may have an effect on Ca 2+ homeostasis. Nifedipine (40 μM), taken as a positive control, showed a very similar