Omonkhelin J Owolabi1
,
Ogochukwu N Anaka1,
Aghogho J Egboh2
For correspondence:- Omonkhelin Owolabi Email: owolabi@uniben.edu
Published: 30 December 2014
Citation: Owolabi OJ, Anaka ON, Egboh AJ. Effect of Aqueous Extract of Persea Americana Mill (Lauraceae) Seeds on Non-Pregnant Rat Uterus. J Sci Pract Pharm 2014; 1(1):1-6 doi: 10.47227/jsppharm.v1i1.1
© 2014 The author(s).
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Purpose: To verify the folklore use of Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae)for the management andcontrol of pretermlabour.
Methods: The contraction of an isolated rat uterus was measured following treatment with acetylcholine (0.006-26.27 mg/ml), oxytocin (0.00067-0.016 iu), ergometrin (0.006-20.0 mg/ml) and potassium chloride (80 mM) in the presence and absence of the extract of P. americana (0.83-3.33 mg/ml). Effect of the extract was compared with salbutamol (1 µg/ml) and atropine (1 µg/ml) against oxytocin and acetylcholine induced contractions respectively. Data collected were compared using Student’s T-test.
Results: The extract significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the contractions produced by oxytocin, acetylcholine, ergometrine, and potassium chloride. Inhibitory effects of the extract was more prominent on acetylcholine induced contractions (p<0.001) than on oxytocin induced contractions. On potassium chloride induced contraction, the extract also produced significant (p<0.05) reduction in the amplitude of contractions. These inhibitory effects were comparable to those of salbutamol and atropine on oxytocin and acetylcholine induced contractions, respectively.
Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Persea americana seeds possesses relaxant effect on the contractility of uterine smooth muscles possibly because of its inhibitory action on extracellular calcium and muscarinic receptors. This justifies the use of the aqueous extract of Persea americana seeds for the management of pre-term birth.
