Author(s):

Olivia Fromm and Teresa DeGolier

Abstract: Labor induction and augmentation can be affected by the use or consumption of unique medicinal plants that produce smooth muscle contractions in uterine tissues. An awareness of the commonalities of the specific herbal constituents among uterotonics is valuable information. This review of the primary literature reports the use of 21 plants and has shown that the phytochemical constituents such as prostaglandins, oxytocin, and triterpenoid saponins are involved in producing positive contractile responses. Other constituents such as diosgenin (a steroid saponin), ferulic acid, tannic acid, phenolic and flavonoid compounds have been reported to promote relaxation or demonstrate no response. These same plants were also documented to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and employ mechanism which involve some of these same biological constituents. As a result of this review, investigations on ten unique plants, previously not reported to modulate uterine contractile behaviors, are recommended in an effort to determine their uterotonic potential. This is based on their documentation as presenting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant behaviors, as well as having prostaglandins, oxytocin, and/or triterpenoid saponins constituents. These results may aid in the selection of additional unique plant species which may be of use in promoting labor.

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