Wazis CH, Anuka JA, Timothy SY, Zezi AU, Hussaini IM
Byrsocarpus coccineous Schum and Thonn is a scrambling shrub with prominent and numerous lenticels that has been known and used in traditional medicine to treat different ailments including induction of labour in several parts of West Africa. This study was aimed at assessing the phytochemical components and in vitro effects of the extracts of Byrsocarpus coccineous on pregnant rat uterus. Leaves of the Byrsocarpus coccineous were collected, air dried, pounded and extracted with ethanol, ethylacetate, N-butanol and water. The extracts obtained were used for the screening of phytochemicals and the assessment of in vitro activity on pregnant rat uterus. All the extracts contained carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, except ethyl acetate extract which did not test positive for glycosides. Other substances that tested positive in all the extracts include cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, cardenolides and saponin glycosides. However, none of the extracts tested positive for alkaloids. The ethylacetate leaf extract contracted the pregnant rat uterus, while the aqueous extract was observed to relax the pregnant rat uterus in vitro. Papaverine and atropine blocked the depolarizing effect of the ethylacetate leaf extract. The antagonistic effect of atropine may suggest the likelihood of the extract to be acting via muscarinic receptor (M1 or M3).
