title: Effects of ethanol extract of Moringa stenopetala leaves on guinea-pig and mouse smooth muscle.
abstract: The fresh leaf ethanol (LE) extract of Moringa stenopetala was tested in guinea-pig ileum and mouse duodenum and in uterus strips. There were significant dose and time dependent reductions of the acetylcholine (AC) response with initial stimulatory effects in both the guinea-pig ileum and the mouse duodenum preparations. Spontaneous rhythmic contractions were greatly reduced, suggesting an antispasmodic property of the crude LE extract. The LE extract showed some oxytocic activity on uterus strips of guinea-pigs and mice. The results are indicative of the traditional use of the leaves of Moringa stenopetala for stomach pain and to expel retained placentae by women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University, P. O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mekonnen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol; D005002:Ethiopia; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol