Evaluation of the oxytocic activity of the ethanol extract of the roots of Alchornea cordifolia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22377/ijgp.v4i4.155Abstract
Alchornea cordifolia has been used traditionally for the induction of labour as an abortifacient. This study is aimed at verifying thefolkloric use of the plant by investigating the effect of ethanolic extract of the root bark on the isolated stilboestrol pretreated uteri of non-pregnant female rats. The extract (1, 10, 50 g/l), oxytocin (4×10−5 to 8×10−3 g/l), acetylcholine (4×10−6 to 8×10−4 g/l), atropine (4×10−3 g/l), phenoxybenzamine (4×10−3 g/l), diphenhydramine(2×10−1 g/l), and verapamil (12×10−2 g/l) were used. Log concentration response curves were plotted and EC50 and Emax were obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnet corrections using
Graph pad Instat version 2.05a was used for statistical analysis. The extract produced dose-dependent contraction of the uterus. Its potency was less than that of oxytocin and acetylcholine (P<0.05), but the Emax showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The Emax values of the extract in the presence of all antagonists were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The EC50 in the presence of atropine showed no significant increase (P>0.05); however, in the presence of phenoxybenzamine, the increase was significant (P<0.05). The presence of diphenhydramine and verapamil produced an inhibition such that the EC50 was unattainable. A. cordifolia stimulates the uterus possibly by binding to alpha-adrenergic or histaminergic receptors or both. This indicates the existence of active principles in the
plant, which may be responsible for some of the applications in traditional medicines as an abortifacient and in the induction of labour.
Key words: Folkloric medicine, root bark, smooth muscles, uterine contraction
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