Seasonal variation in uterotonic activity of Rhoicissus tridentata extracts

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 92; no. 5; pp. 375 - 377
• Main Authors: KATSOULIS, L. C, VEALE, D. J. H, HAVLIK, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pinelands Medical Association of South Africa 01-05-2002
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; In Vitro Techniques; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Medicine, African Traditional; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Roots; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Seasons; South Africa; Uterine Contraction - drug effects; Southern Africa; Africa; South Africa; Root; Rat; Rodentia; Contractility; Birth; Pregnancy; Vertebrata; Plant; Mammalia; Uterus; Seasonal variation; Animal; Pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0256-9574

Rhoicissus tridentata lignotubers are widely used in southern African traditional pregnancy-related remedies.
To determine the seasonal variation in contractile activity of extracts from different parts of the plant.
Isolated rat uterus tissue was used to compare the contractile activity of crude aqueous extracts of R. tridentata made from plant material harvested every 3 months over a period of 2 years.
The activity of the plant extracts from plants harvested in summer and autumn were 4-5-fold higher than extracts from plants harvested in winter or spring. The tubers stimulated the greatest degree of contractions, followed by the stems, roots and leaves. These results highlight the need to standardise the timing of harvesting R. tridentata.