Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1506-1507
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3399941
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 2
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A -enriched fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum inhibits human myometrial contractility in vitro

S Santos
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich,, Zurich, Switzerland
2   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel,, Basel, Switzerland
,
C Haslinger
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich,, Zurich, Switzerland
,
K Kalic
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich,, Zurich, Switzerland
,
MT Faleschini
2   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel,, Basel, Switzerland
,
M Mennet
3   Weleda AG,, Arlesheim, Switzerland
,
O Potterat
2   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel,, Basel, Switzerland
,
U von Mandach
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich,, Zurich, Switzerland
,
M Hamburger
2   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel,, Basel, Switzerland
,
AP Simões-Wüst
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich,, Zurich, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

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Preparations containing Bryophyllum pinnatum are used in the treatment of premature labour, but the compounds responsible for the activity are not known [1]. We investigated the effects on human myometrial contractility in vitro of B. pinnatum juice (BPJ), a flavonoid-enriched fraction (FEF), the corresponding flavonoid aglycon mixture (A-Mix), and a bufadienolide-enriched fraction (BEF) [2].

Myometrial biopsies were collected during elective Caesarean sections. Strips of tissue were mounted in an organ bath system (myograph), and spontaneous contractions were recorded. Aliquots of stock solutions of FEF, A-Mix, BEF and BPJ were repeatedly added at intervals of 20 min, and strength (AUC and amplitude) and frequency of contractions were recorded for each interval. After a washout period, vitality of strips was observed. Cell viability assays were performed with two human myometrial cell lines.

Repeated addition of FEF, A-Mix, BEF or BPJ led to a progressive decrease of contraction strength in a concentration-dependent manner (in all cases, p<0.05). BEF was the most active test substance, since 1 µg/mL BEF lowered AUC to 40.1 ± 11.8% of initial, whereas 150 µg/mL FEF, 6.2 µg/mL A-Mix, and 10 µg/mL BPJ (i.e. 1%) were required to achieve comparable inhibition. Test substances decreased myometrial cell viability only at concentrations higher than those used in the myometrium experiments.

All test substances inhibited myometrial contractility without affecting viability. Given the concentrations of flavonoids in FEF and BPJ, and of bufadienolides in BEF and BPJ, it appears that bufadienolides are mainly responsible for the relaxant effect.

 

  • References

  • 1 Fürer K, Simões-Wüst AP, von Mandach U, Hamburger M, Potterat O. Bryophyllum pinnatum and related species used in anthroposophic medicine: constituents, pharmacological activities, and clinical efficacy. Planta Med 2016; 82: 930-941.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Santos S, Haslinger C, Klaic K, Faleschini MT, Mennet M, Potterat O. et al. A bufadienolide-enriched fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum inhibits human myometrial contractility in vitro . Planta Med 2019; 85: 385-393.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar