Leaf press juice from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lamarck) Oken induces myometrial relaxation

AimsThe use of preparations from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lamarck) Oken (Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamarck) Persoon) in tocolysis is supported by clinical evidence. We studied here the effect of B. pinnatum leaf press juice and its chemical fractions on the response of human myometrial strips. No data are available if the influence on myometrial strips of the juice differs from that of its components in the chemical fractions, in order to increase the pharmacological effect.MethodologyIn vitro study to test the effect of repeated addition of B. pinnatum leaf press juice (BPJ) and its chemical components in several dilutions (undiluted, 1–10%) on myometrium strips hang up in a myograph chamber. Chemical analysis is including HPLC, MPLC with Sephadex LH-20 and TLC.ResultsAll test solutions are inhibiting contractility by reducing the amplitude and the area under the curve (AUC) of the contractions. Undiluted BPJ and its undiluted chemical fraction 4 are reducing most effective these two parameters: the amplitude was at 78% of the baseline (95% CI (77–89); p < 0.05) at the second addition of the BPJ and at 70% (95% CI (50–90); p < 0.05) of the first addition of fraction 4; the AUC was at 82% (95% CI (69–95); p < 0.05) of the baseline at the first addition of the press juice and at 51% (95% CI (27–74); p < 0.05) at the first addition of fraction 4. The BPJ decreased amplitude and AUC significantly faster and increased frequency significantly faster than the control. Fractions could be tentatively assigned to bufadienolids, flavonoids and cinnamic acids. Fraction 4, accounted for flavonoids, increased the frequency of the contractions most effectively: 557% of the baseline (95% CI (316–797); p < 0.05) at the first addition.ConclusionLeaf juice of B. pinnatum and its flavonoid fraction are most effective in relaxing myometrial strips by inducing frequency.