Abstract
In vitro Tocolytic activity of Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight
Department of Pharmacology, The Bombay College of Pharmacy, Kalina, Santacruz (E), Mumbai-400 098, India
Correspondence Address:
M N Saraf Department of Pharmacology, The Bombay College of Pharmacy, Kalina, Santacruz (E), Mumbai-400 098 India E-mail: saraf@bcpindia.org
The effect of a chloroform soluble fraction (F-A) of the acetone extract of twigs of Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight on contractions induced by oxytocin and KCl, in the isolated rat uterine smooth muscles, has been evaluated. At concentrations of 32.8 µg/ml, the F-A significantly inhibited (P<0.001) the contractions induced by 60 mM KCl in Ca2+, containing physiological salt solution to the extent of 88.7 ± 2.2%. The F-A, at concentrations of 26.3 µg/ml, completely inhibited the rhythmic contractions induced by oxytocin in Ca2+, containing physiological salt solution. However, it failed to inhibit the contractions induced by oxytocin in Ca2+ free PSS. These results suggest that fraction F-A exhibits uterine relaxant activity, by interfering with the extracellular Ca2+.
