EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC ROOT AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF CISSAMPELOS MUCRONATA ON THE EXPECTED ONSET OF PARTURITION IN ALBINO RATS

Ndu OO^a,*, Akah PA^a, Ochiogu IS^b, Mbaoji FN^a, Udeogu CC^a,Timothy MC^a
a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka-Nigeria
b Department of Veterinary Obstetrics and Reproductive Diseases, University of Nigeria, Nsukka-Nigeria

Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 9(1): 75-79; June/July 2017

ABSTRACT
Further to our earlier in vitro study, the effects of the ethanol leaf and root extracts of Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich on the onset of parturition in pregnant albino rats was investigated. Two dose levels of each extract were administered p.o. b.d. to specific animal groups (190-250 g, n=5) from day 19 of gestation until littering. 3 % tween 85 and salbutamol served as controls. The time to onset of parturition was noted for each animal, and any extension in mean gestation length in treated groups relative to that for the negative control group was compared by dose level and extract type relative to the positive control. Both extracts significantly (p<0.05) and dose-dependently delayed onset of parturition relative to the negative control, with the root extract eliciting stronger effects. However, only 200 mg/kg b.d. of the root extract showed a significantly (p<0.05) greater effect than 0.1 mg/kg b.d. of salbutamol. These results agree with our previous in vitro findings, and directly validate the plant’s traditional use as a tocolytic.

KEYWORDS: Cissampelos mucronata; parturition; tocolytic

Email of correspondence: monsieuroon@yahoo.com