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ABSTRACT
In Southern Nigeria, the leaves of Emilia coccinea (Sims) G Dons are used traditionally in birth control (contraception ) and the methanol extract of the leaves of emilia coccinea has been evaluated for its effect on uterine contraction, however little or no scientific reports are available for evaluating the effects of the whole plant of Ec on uterine contraction. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the effect of methanol extracts of Emilia coccinea whole plant on uterine contractility as well as the solvent fractions eliciting the effect. Fresh whole plants of Emilia coccinea were macerated in 99.8% methanol and fractionated into n- hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fraction. The cumulative concentrations (0.0001--0.1221 mg/ml ) of the crude extract of Emilia coccinea was tested on rhythmic spontaneous contraction of a mouse uterus. It was observed to produce an inhibitory effect on both amplitude and frequency of uterine contraction with an IC50 of 0.1023 mg/ml and 0.2715 mg/ml respectively. The dichloromethane fraction (0.0001--0.1221 mg/ml) also produced a decrease in frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contraction with IC50 of 0.2509 mg/ml and 0.1411 mg/ml respectively while the n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions (0.0001--0.1221 mg/ml) showed no significant effect on uterine contractility. In conclusion, the whole plant extracts of Emilia coccinea has been shown in this study to exhibit inhibitory effect on uterine contractility which would support the traditional use of the plant as a contraceptive and a potential tocolytic agent.
