Search

Dysmenorrhea is painful menstrual periods, which affects 25% of women within reproductive age and has a prevalence of 67.2–90.0%. Current treatment has several adverse effects and can be ineffectiv...

This study aimed to assess and determine the estrogenic activity of the leaf extract of Justicia flava (JF) in mice, which may interfere with its therapeutic use in female reproduction. The uterotr...

Dysmenorrhea is painful menstrual periods, which affects 25% of women within reproductive age and has a prevalence of 67.2-90.0%. Current treatment has several adverse effects and can be ineffective once the pain is initiated.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 10% of women within reproductive ages and has been a cause of infertility and poor quality of life. Alteration in the oxidant-antioxidant profile occurs in PCOS. This study, therefore, investigates the contribution of ascorbic acid (AA) and alpha-tocopherol(ATE) on different PCOS parameters. The mifepristone and letrozole models were used, and young mature female mice were randomly assigned to groups of six per group. On PCOS induction with either mifepristone or letrozole, mice were administered AA and ATE at doses ranging from 10–1000mg/kg to 0.1–1000 mg/kg in the respective models. Vaginal cytology, body weights, and temperature, as well as blood glucose, testosterone, and insulin levels, were measured. Total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels were analyzed. Determination of gene expression of some reactive oxygen species and histomorphological analysis on the ovaries and uteri were performed. At the end of the experiments, AA and ATE restored reproductive cycling, with AA being more effective. AA and ATE increased fasting blood glucose but had no significant effect on serum insulin levels. AA decreased testosterone levels, but ATE caused slight increases. AA and ATE both increased total antioxidant capacity and decreased malondialdehyde levels. AA and ATE also slightly upregulated the mRNA expressions of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and heme oxygenase 1 mainly. AA and ATE also decreased ovarian weight and mostly resolved cysts in the ovaries and congestion in the uterus. This study has shown that AA and ATE are beneficial in the therapy of PCOS.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The leaves of Justicia flava are traditionally used in the South of Nigeria to prevent preterm births. Aim of the study : In this study, the activity of the methanol leaf extract of J. flava (JF) was investigated on uterine contractility in non-pregnant and pregnant isolated mouse tissues. Material and methods The effects on spontaneous, oxytocin, and KCl-induced contractions were determined. The effects in calcium-free media were also determined. Possible mechanisms of activity were investigated using receptor and channel modulators. Mass spectrometric analysis was additionally performed on the leaf extract to identify secondary metabolites. Results JF was observed to inhibit spontaneous, oxytocin and high KCl-induced uterine contractility. JF also inhibited contractions in Ca 2+− free media. JF was found to exert its inhibitory effect via interaction with inositol triphosphate and ryanodine receptors and also through modulation of K + - channels. Lignans and alkaloids were identified with the lignans being the most abundant in JF. Conclusion JF has been shown to potently inhibit uterine contractions in non-pregnant and pregnant isolated mouse uterus. The inhibitory activity of JF has been shown to occur via blockade of extracellular and intracellular calcium entry and these effects may be due to the lignans identified in the JF. JF has therefore been shown in this study to be a lead plant in the discovery of new drugs with uterine inhibitory activity.

Green tea is widely known for its beneficial biologic effect and there have been some reports on the beneficial effect on the reproductive system. There have however been no reports on green tea effects on uterine contractility. This study is therefore aimed at the investigation of green tea extract on the amplitude and frequency of uterine contractility. Green tea bags were macerated in boiling water for 5 min and concentrated to dryness. The extract (0.33 -1333.21 µg/mL) was tested on the isolated mouse uterus. The contractility parameters investigated included spontaneous contraction, oxytocin (60 pg/mL) induced contraction and high KCl (80 mM)-induced contraction. High resolution mass spectrometric (HRMS) determination of secondary metabolites was also performed on the extract. The extract inhibited both the amplitude and frequency of uterine contractility studied, however minimal inhibitory effect was observed with KCl-induced contraction. The HRMS analysis revealed the presence of twenty-five (25) significant compounds, 23 of which were identified and 2 were unknown. Compounds were observed to belong to a diverse range of phytochemical classes including pteridine, flavonoids, cyclitols, and coumarins, with the majority of detected compounds belonging to the flavonoid class. The results obtained in this study have shown that green tea extract inhibits uterine contractility possibly due to the presence of the flavonoids, and through interaction with calcium and/or prostaglandins

Background: The leaves of Alchornea laxiflora are traditionally used in the south of Nigeria to prevent preterm births. Aim: This study was designed to investigate the activity of A. laxiflora on uterine contractility. Setting: The leaves of the plant were collected from forests in Egor, Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: The leaves were cleaned and extracted in methanol. The extract (0.005 mg/mL–3.5 mg/mL) was tested on spontaneous uterine contraction and on oxytocin-induced contraction in normal and Ca 2+ -free media. The plant extract (0.0035 mg/mL, 0.035 mg/mL, 0.35 mg/mL and 3.5 mg/mL) was tested on high KCl-induced uterine contractions (80 mM). The plant extract (3.5 mg/mL) was also studied in the presence of amiodarone and glibenclamide in separate experiments. Mass spectrometric analysis was additionally performed on the plant extract in order to identify significant secondary metabolites that may have contributed to the activity of the plant. Results: The plant extract inhibited spontaneous, oxytocin and high KCl-induced uterine contractions and also significantly inhibited ( p < 0.01) oxytocin-induced uterine contraction in Ca 2+ -free medium. The plant extract significantly inhibited ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) oxytocin’s amplitude in the presence of amiodarone and glibenclamide, respectively. Secondary metabolites belonging to classes of fatty acids, glycols, terpenes, flavonoid glycosides and porphyrins were identified. Conclusion: Alchornea laxiflora inhibited mouse uterine contractility possibly through interaction with potassium and calcium channels. Of the known metabolites identified, 3-deoxy-arabino-hept-2-ulosonic acid, 17-hydroxyingenol and phaeophorbide-a methyl inhibit uterine contractility and may contribute to the activity of A. laxiflora in utero.

Background: The plant Dryopteris filix-mas has been used traditionally for its uterine-stimulant effects. Aim: The current study is therefore aimed at investigating and determining the effect of the leaves of D. filix-mas on uterine contractility in vitro . Setting: Fresh leaves of D. filix-mas were collected from a river bank in the south-western part of Nigeria. Methods: The leaves of D. filix-mas were cleaned, dried and extracted in methanol. The extract (0.07 µg/mL–21.0 µg/mL) was tested on the isolated mouse uteri in order to determine activity on spontaneous-induced uterine contractions. Subsequently the extract (0.005 mg/mL and 0.05 mg/mL) was tested on oxytocin-induced contraction (0.00017 ng/mL–4.98 ng/mL) in calcium-containing media, submaximal oxytocin-induced contraction (0.116 ng/mL) in calcium-free media and in the presence of high KCl-induced uterine contractions (80 mM). The extract was also subjected to mass spectrometric determination of secondary metabolites. Results: The plant extract inhibited spontaneous-induced contractions with IC 50 amplitude = 658.41 ng/mL ± 0.11 ng/mL and IC 50 frequency = 175.32 ng/mL ± 0.53 ng/mL. The plant extract inhibited oxytocin-induced and high KCl-induced uterine contractions ( p < 0.01 at 0.5 mg/mL). The plant extract had no effect on oxytocin-induced contractions under calcium-free conditions. Secondary metabolites belonging to classes of fatty acids, alkaloids, saponin glycosides, amino acids, limonoids, terpenes and porphyrins were identified. Conclusion: The current study reports an inhibitory effect of the plant on uterine contractility in this study, suggesting possible application as a tocolytic or as a contraceptive, as most contraceptive plants have shown uterine-relaxing effect.

Background and aim: Alpha-tocopherol has been implicated in reproduction processes, and deficiency of phylloquinone has been associated with serious complications in pregnancy. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the effects of phylloquinone and alphatocopherol on uterine contractility and female reproductive function using mouse models. Materials and methods: Both in vivo and ex vivo animal models were employed and designed to assess changes on uterine contractility and reproductive functions in the non-pregnant uterus. The effect of alpha-tocopherol and phylloquinone on spontaneous uterine contractions, oxytocin-induced uterine contractions (11.82 nM) and high KCl-induced tonic uterine contractions (80 mM) were assessed. The effect of subcutaneous administration of alphatocopherol (10 mg/kg) on reproductive hormone levels and reproductive tissues were also determined. Results: Alpha-tocopherol increased the force of contractions while phylloquinone decreased the force of uterine contractions. Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (P &lt, 0.01), estrogen (P &lt, 0.01) and progesterone (P &lt, 0.001) were elevated in the presence of alphatocopherol after 6 days subcutaneous administration. Conclusions: Alpha-tocopherol and phylloquinone have been shown to directly modulate uterine contractility and reproductive function and may contribute to the management and treatment of reproductive disorders.

PROBLEM Infection-induced endometritis is associated with infertility. The outcome with oral antibiotics remains poor. This study therefore investigates the role of ascorbic acid in resolving endometritis. METHOD OF STUDY Animals with established oestrus cycles were inoculated with Escherichia coli. Two days post-inoculation, the animals were administered ascorbic acid (10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg) and amoxicillin (500 mg/kg) for 5 days. Other groups included water only and E. coli inoculated with no treatment. Body temperatures, weights and vaginal cytology were examined. On the sixth day, after anaesthesia, blood samples were obtained for haematological analysis. Uterine organs were weighed, ex-vivo functionality analysed and histopathological analysis performed. RESULTS Ascorbic acid (AA) (100 and 1000 mg/kg) regularized the cycle of the endometritic animals comparable to amoxicillin. AA (1000 mg/kg) and amoxicillin, significantly decreased (P