Study of pharmacological properties of the methanolic extract of Dichrostachys cinerea bark (L.) Wight et Arn (Leguminosae) in isolated myometrium from pregnant rats.
BACKGROUND
The use of medicinal plants in Gabon contributes widely to the primary health care of the people of this area of Central Africa. This paper investigates the pharmacological properties of Dichrostachys cinerea, the plant barks are traditionally used by Gabonese and Ivorian populations to treat bronchial asthma, rheumatism, and other various diseases. Although D. cinerea barks have been reported to be used by population to facilitate childbirth, to the best of our knowledge no scientific evidence has been published.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological properties of D. cinerea methanolic extract, on isolated uterine smooth muscle and compared its effects to those of oxytocin, which is used by obstetricians to facilitate childbirth. We also explored the possible mechanism pathways of the in vitro uterine contraction induced by D. cinerea.


METHODS
The effects of different concentrations (3.2µg/ml, 16µg/ml, 80µg/ml, 400µg/ml, and 2mg/ml) of the methanolic extract of D. cinerea on isolated strips of the uteri of pregnant rats were studied. These effects were compared to those of oxytocin (8.4×10(-5)µg/ml, 8.4×10(-4)µg/ml, 8.4×10(-3)µg/ml, 8.4×10(-2)µg/ml). The EC (50) and E (max) was determined graphically and statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett post hoc test.


RESULTS
Cumulative concentrations of D. cinerea have caused rise in the contractile force of the uterine fragments that were isolated from the pregnant rats, as seen with oxytocin concentrations. We observed contractions amplitude of 30.41mN (12%) at 80µg/ml and amplitude of 39.68mN (14.17%) at 400µg/ml for D. cinerea. In parallel, oxytocin concentration of 8.4×10(-3)µg/ml induced contractions of 45.82mN with the highest concentration (8.4×10(-2)µg/ml) that induced contractions of 55.82mN.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results revealed that D. cinerea increased the contractile force and the frequency of muscle contractions. These findings support the use of D. cinerea to facilitate childbirth, as it has been used in traditional medicine.
Pharmacopeia and Traditional Medicine Institute: National Scientific Research and Technology Center, Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: awsams@yahoo.fr.
Reine Rr
RR
Aworet Samseny
Pharmacopeia and Traditional Medicine Institute: National Scientific Research and Technology Center, Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: sophie.aboughe@gmail.com.
Sophie Aboughe
SA
Angone
Pharmacopeia and Traditional Medicine Institute: National Scientific Research and Technology Center, Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: madnoreen@gmail.com.
Noreen Koumba
NK
Madingou
Pharmacopeia and Traditional Medicine Institute: National Scientific Research and Technology Center, Libreville, Gabon. Electronic address: bouk_marlaine@yahoo.fr.
Marlaine Boukandou
MB
Mounanga
Nutrition and Pharmacology Laboratory, UFR Biosciences, University Felix Hophouet Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Cost. Electronic address: yaodattejacques@yahoo.fr.
Jacques Y
JY
Datté
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D010936:Plant Extracts; D010121:Oxytocin; D000432:Methanol
Childbirth; Dichrostachys cinerea; Oxytocin; Uterus