International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705
Lawrence Chimbwali1*, Lavina Prashar1, James Nyirenda2, and Newton Simfukwe1
1Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Zambia
2Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia
Abstract: Before the development of modern medicine, plants were once the primary source of all medicine in the world, and they continue to provide mankind with new remedies. Uterotonic plants are plants that stimulate uterine contraction and are therefore used to assist labor, remove retained placenta, control postpartum bleeding and as an abortifacient. Gossypium is one of the herbal remedies that is being used to induce labor, despite being used to induce labor the root extracts of Gossypium hirsutum had not yet been scientifically studied to assess their uterotonic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect that the root extracts of Gossypium hirsutum had on the uterus. This was an experimental study that was conducted using isolated strips of uterine smooth muscles that were obtained from healthy non-pregnant Wistar rats. Extraction of the plant was done by maceration and Soxhlet apparatus using three solvents (aqueous, methanol & petroleum ether). The results of this study showed that crude root extracts of Gossypium hirsutum possess demonstrable uterotonic potential, the aqueous extract was found to be the most potent and most efficacious (EC 50 = 7.76 x10-1 mg/ml and Emax = 15.25 mN). The extract induced contraction were blocked by three antagonist (Nifedipine, salbutamol and Indomethacin), the antagonism was more with a calcium channel blocker (P= 0.008). The reduced amplitude of contraction in the presence of these antagonist indicated the involvement of beta 2 receptors, prostaglandins and Calcium in the Gossypium hirsutum induced uterine contractions.
Keywords. Phytochemical, potency, efficacy, maceration, extraction, uterotonic
I. INTRODUCTION
Before the development of modern medicine, plants were once the primary source of all medicine in the world, and they continue to provide mankind with new remedies (Van wky et al., 2009). Despite the major breakthrough in science and research, a high percentage of the world’s population still rely on herbal medicines. The reliance on herbal medicine has continued mostly in developing countries due to availability, accessibility and affordability of herbal medicine over modern medicine (Omwenga et al., 2012)
According to WHO, herbal medicines are defined as any medicinal product based on herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations or herbal products that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, plant materials or combinations thereof (WHO, 2013). These herbal medicines are used to treat various ailments, for example women in sub-Saharan Africa, both in urban and rural areas use herbal medicines for the management of gynecological disorders associated with the female reproductive system (Gruber & O’Brien, 2011). Among pregnant women, herbal medicines are used during