<i>In vitro</i> evaluation of the effect of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> (Tiliaceae) on isolated mouse uterus

Abstract

This study investigates the in vitro activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius (Tiliaceae) on the isolated mouse uterus. This plant was examined based on its traditional use in arresting miscarriage in Nigeria and also in order to document its potential usefulness in the therapy of uterine related pathologies. The aqueous leaf extract was tested on the isolated uterus of mice previously primed with diethylstilboestrol (0.2 mg/kg) 24 h prior to the experiment. The effect of the extract (0.003 – 3.0 mg/ml) and salbutamol (0.41 – 411.0 ng/ml) on spontaneous uterine contractility, in the presence and absence of oxytocin (0.004 IU/ml) and in the presence of high KCl (60 mM) were examined. The effect of the extract on CaCl2-induced contraction in Ca 2+ -free medium was additionally examined. All data obtained were analysed using one way ANOVA with post-hoc test for linear trend. It was observed that the extract significantly inhibited spontaneous and oxytocin-induced uterine contractions (p < 0.05) at lower concentrations while higher concentrations augmented contractions. Salbutamol, the reference drug, inhibited spontaneous and oxytocin-induced uterine contractions at all concentrations used. The extract had no significant effect on high KCl-induced contractions, however lower concentrations inhibited CaCl 2- induced uterine contractions (in Ca 2+ -free medium) (p < 0.05) while higher concentrations appeared to augment contractions. The leaf extracts of C. olitorius inhibits uterine contractions of the isolated mouse uterus at lower concentrations while higher concentrations stimulates and augments uterine contractility. Keywords : Oxytocin; Calcium; Salbutamol; In vitro uterine activity; Corchorus olitorius ; Uterus