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Bryophyllum pinnatum enhances the inhibitory effect of atosiban and nifedipine on human myometrial contractility: an in vitro study.
- Source :
-
BMC complementary and alternative medicine [BMC Complement Altern Med] 2019 Nov 04; Vol. 19 (1), pp. 292. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Nov 04. - Publication Year :
- 2019
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Abstract
- Background: The herbal medicine Bryophyllum pinnatum has been used as a tocolytic agent in anthroposophic medicine and, recently, in conventional settings alone or as an add-on medication with tocolytic agents such as atosiban or nifedipine. We wanted to compare the inhibitory effect of atosiban and nifedipine on human myometrial contractility in vitro in the absence and in the presence of B. pinnatum press juice (BPJ).<br />Methods: Myometrium biopsies were collected during elective Caesarean sections. Myometrial strips were placed under tension into an organ bath and allowed to contract spontaneously. Test substances alone and at concentrations known to moderately affect contractility in this setup, or in combination, were added to the organ bath, and contractility was recorded throughout the experiments. Changes in the strength (measured as area under the curve (AUC) and amplitude) and frequency of contractions after the addition of all test substances were determined. Cell viability assays were performed with the human myometrium hTERT-C3 and PHM1-41 cell lines.<br />Results: BPJ (2.5 μg/mL), atosiban (0.27 μg/mL), and nifedipine (3 ng/mL), moderately reduced the strength of spontaneous myometrium contractions. When BPJ was added together with atosiban or nifedipine, inhibition of contraction strength was significantly higher than with the tocolytics alone (p = 0.03 and p < 0.001, respectively). In the case of AUC, BPJ plus atosiban promoted a decrease to 48.8 ± 6.3% of initial, whereas BPJ and atosiban alone lowered it to 70.9 ± 4.7% and to 80.9 ± 4.1% of initial, respectively. Also in the case of AUC, BPJ plus nifedipine promoted a decrease to 39.9 ± 4.6% of initial, at the same time that BPJ and nifedipine alone lowered it to 78.9 ± 3.8% and 71.0 ± 3.4% of initial. Amplitude data supported those AUC data. The inhibitory effects of BPJ plus atosiban and of BPJ plus nifedipine on contractions strength were concentration-dependent. None of the test substances, alone or in combination, decreased myometrial cell viability.<br />Conclusions: BPJ enhances the inhibitory effect of atosiban and nifedipine on the strength of myometrial contractions, without affecting myometrium tissue or cell viability. The combination treatment of BPJ with atosiban or nifedipine has therapeutic potential.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Drug Antagonism
Female
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Myometrium physiopathology
Nifedipine pharmacology
Pregnancy
Tocolytic Agents pharmacology
Vasotocin antagonists & inhibitors
Vasotocin pharmacology
Young Adult
Kalanchoe chemistry
Myometrium drug effects
Nifedipine antagonists & inhibitors
Plant Extracts pharmacology
Premature Birth prevention & control
Tocolytic Agents antagonists & inhibitors
Uterine Contraction drug effects
Vasotocin analogs & derivatives
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1472-6882
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC complementary and alternative medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31685022
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2711-5