Author(s):

Hayley Cermin and Teresa DeGolier

Abstract: Herbal remedies have been utilized in midwifery with little exploration of the mechanisms involved. Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) has been reviewed for its pharmaceutical value to obstetrics, but less information is available on other physiological systems containing smooth muscle. The investigative goal of this project was to measure the contractile effects of blue cohosh and three of its isolated constituents (The alkaloids N-methylcytisine and magnoflorine, and comparable glycoside saponins) from isolated strips of Mus musculus distal colon. Changes produced by blue cohosh itself were non-remarkable. The saponins produced the greatest contractile effect when compared to the “0”treatment (P <0.0001). N-methylcytisine also demonstrated significant contractile increases, but less than that produced from the saponins. These responses, however, were very small relative to uterine responses, indicating that administration of blue cohosh to augment or promote labor would not result in a marked increase in distal colon motility.

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