Volume 15, Issue 1: 2025 - Article 189

Abstract
Traditionally, leaves of Luffa cylindrica are known and used for their uterotonic activity, and our earlier studies on isolated rat uterine muscle strips corroborated this. The present study investigated the source and influence of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) on the isolated uterine smooth muscle contractions induced by ethanol leaf extract of L. cylindrica. Dried leaves of L. cylindrica were subjected to Soxhlet extraction using 80% ethanol. The extract produced a concentration-dependent increase in uterine muscle contraction, with 0.14 mg/ml as the lowest active concentration. Oxytocin (0.5 ng/mg) similarly produced a dose-dependent contraction of the uterine muscle preparation that was fast and phasic in nature. Verapamil hydrochloride significantly (p < 0.05) caused inhibition of the extract-mediated contractions with complete abolition of contractions at 0.67 mg/ml. Nifedipine (0.02 mg/ml) also abolished the spontaneous contractions of the myometrium and contractions induced by the extract, even when a higher concentration (2.4 mg/ml) of the extract was added to the perfusate. Both the extract and oxytocin were unable to contract the uterine muscle preparation in physiological salt solution (PSS) that was devoid of CaCl₂. However, the contractions were restored when the tissue was again bathed in normal PSS containing CaCl₂. Caffeine exerted no influence on uterine muscle contractions stimulated by the extract. The results of the study suggest that the ethanol leaf extract of L. cylindrica led to contractions of isolated rat uterine muscle strips solely through mobilization of Ca²⁺ from the extracellular compartment to boost the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, which is a prerequisite for myometrial contraction.


Keywords: Luffa cylindrica, Ethanol leaf extract; Uterotonic activity; Calcium ions; Myometrium.

How to cite this article:
Chiroma M, Odo RI, Obidike RI, William A and Uchendu CN (2025). Investigations on the
source and role of calcium ions in the in vitro uterine muscle contraction stimulated by
ethanol leaf extract of Luffa cylindrica. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 15(1):
1042 – 1049.

*Correspondence: E-mail:     mbursachiroma@unimaid.edu.ng      Phone: +2348068173762

Investigations on the source and role of calcium ions in the in vitro uterine muscle contraction stimulated by ethanol leaf extract of Luffa cylindrica
Mbursa Chiroma ¹ *, Rita I. Odo ², Reginald I. Obidike ², Arastus William ¹ and Chukwuka N. Uchendu <sup>2

1</sup> Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria.
² Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

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