Utero-relaxing and anti-free-radical effects of hydro-ethanolic extracts of Desmodium ramosissimum in the wistar female rats

Abstract

Objectives: In sub-Saharan Africa, the therapeutic use of medicinal plants is of arousing interest. Reproductive disorders are a public health problem like everywhere else in the world. The population, especially in rural areas, uses medicinal plants for their beneficial effects. In Africa, the population uses these medicinal plants for their healthcare, including solving problems related to childbirth where there is an increase in the number of women known as “traditional birth attendants.” The effects of its medicinal plants relate to the various reproductive processes in women, from pregnancy to induction of labor, elimination of placental retention, and management of postpartum hemorrhage. To contribute to the enhancement of medicinal plants traditionally used in reproductive healthcare in Togo and to make information on their pharmacological effects available to the population, this work focused on the evaluation utero-relaxing and anti-free radical effects of extracts of Desmodium ramosissimum in the female rats of the Wistar strain. Material and Methods: The effects of hydro-ethanolic extracts of leaves, stem barks, and roots of D.ramosissimum were then tested on shreds Myometer of the female rats mounted in an organ vat and the antioxidant activity of these extracts tested was then determined. Results: The results show that hydro-ethanolic extracts from leaves, stem bark, and roots of D.ramosissimum cause a reduction in the frequency of spontaneous contractions of the uterine muscle. This reduction shows that these extracts have relaxing effects on the contraction of this muscle. The leaves extract showed better antioxidant activity compared to other extracts. Conclusion: This antioxidant activity is probably due to the phenolic constituents and its metabolites would be partly responsible for the pharmacological activities of D.ramosissimum. D.ramosissimum could thus be used to reduce uterine contractions in order to avoid Threats of Premature Labor.