Phytochemical Analysis and Contractile Effects of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extracts of Anastatica hierochuntica L. (Brassicaceae) on the Isolated Uterus of Mice

Background: Anastatica hierochuntica L. (Brassicaceae) has been claimed to treat various conditions, including complicated childbirth. The principal objective of this research was to provide scientific evidence on the contractile effect of the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of the whole plant from A. hierochuntica during labor. Method: Qualitative and quantitative methods helped identify and quantify the phytoconstituents in both extracts. The antioxidant activity was studied using four standard methods (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and LPO). Results: The inhibitory power of the extracts on pro-inflammatory enzymes such as 15-lipoxygenase and phospholipase A2 was determined. The contractile effects of the extracts were evaluated using isolated pregnant mice uteri. Steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, and reduced compounds were identified in both extracts. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited higher content of hydrolyzable tannins (15.07 ± 0.24 mg tannic acid equivalent/g) than the aqueous decoction (11.8 ± 0.69 mg TAE/g). The extracts demonstrated the ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS radicals, reduce ferric ions, and inhibit especially lipid peroxidation. No significant difference was noted in the phospholipase inhibition between the extracts and betamethasone. The hydroethanolic extract displayed the most significant anti-lipoxygenase activity with an IC50 value of 55.82 ± 1.15 μg/mL. The lethal dose (LD50) of extracts was estimated to be superior to 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw). The ability of the samples to produce one cm amplitude of contraction at 50% effective concentrations (EC50) was 5.33 × 10−8 ± 0.32 mg/mL for oxytocin, 1.51 ± 0.08 mg/mL for aqueous extract and 3.57 ± 0.61 mg/mL for hydroethanolic extract. Conclusion: These findings could provide evidence for using Anastatica hierochuntica to facilitate childbirth.

Effect of Contragestazolin(L14105) on Pregnancy Termination in Rodents

Contragestazolin (L14105) belongs to the class of 2 phenyl triazole isoquinolines. When given subcutaneously, intramuscularly or orally showed potential pregnancy terminating activity in mice, rats, hamsters and guinea pigs, but the dialy doses of oral administration needed were 7.1, 6.3 and 47.6 times (for mouse, rat and hamster) greater than those needed parenterally. L14105 had low affinity to rat uterine progesterone receptor. When cultured human decidual cells were exposed to L14105 0.077～0.155 mmol/L for 24～48 h, the cells' viability markedly dropped and structural changes occurred in comparison with controls. Histological examination of conceptuses of rats showed edema, degeneration, necrosis and atrophy or disappearance of decidual cells nuclei and absorption of embryos after the sc administration of L14105 5 mg/kg for 24～48 h. L14105 stimulated the contractile force of uterine smooth muscle in vivo or in vitro. Conclusion: L14105 shows a very high pregnancy terminating activity. Multiple oral administration is also effective. The mode of action of contragestation is related to damage of decidual cells and stimulation of uterine contractility.