title: Uterine contraction induced by Tanzanian plants used to induce abortion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women in Tanzania use plants to induce abortion. It is not known whether the plants have an effect.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Collect data on plant use in relation to induced abortion and test the effect of plant extracts on uterine contraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  During interviews with traditional birth attendants and nurses, plants were identified. Cumulative doses of plant extracts were added to rat uterine tissue in an organ bath, and the force and frequency of contractions recorded. Acetylcholine was used as positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21 plant species were tested for effect on uterine contraction. 11 species increased the force of contraction, and 12 species the frequency of contractions. The strongest contractions comparable to the maximum response obtained with acetylcholine were obtained with extracts of Bidens pilosa, Commelina africana, Desmodium barbatum, Manihot esculenta, Ocimum suave, Oldenlandia corymbosa and Sphaerogyne latifolia. 7 species increased both the force and frequency of contractions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several of the plant species induced strong and frequent contractions of the uterus, and can be used to induce an abortion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2 Universitetsparken, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikolajsen
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rasch
authors.forename: Pernille H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Uffe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jäger
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008880:Midwifery; D009726:Nurses; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013636:Tanzania; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000109:Acetylcholine