THE PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE METHANOL ROOT EXTRACT OF AZANZA GARCKEANA (MALVACEAE) ON ISOLATED WISTAR RAT UTERINE SMOOTH MUSCLES.

Background: Pregnant women in Chongwe, Zambia traditionally use the root of Azanza garckeana (F.Hffm.) Exell & Hillc (Malvalceae) to induce or accelerate labour. A previous study on the plant showed the methanol crude root extracts to possesses the highest uterotonic potential. Aim: To evaluate the phytopharmacological activity of the Methanol root extract of Azanza garckeana. Methods: This was a laboratory-based study designed using the uterus isolated from estrogenised adult non-gravid female virgin Wistar rats. The methanol crude extract was obtained by continuous maceration. The crude was partitioned using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol in the increasing order of polarity. The most active fraction was fractionated using column chromatography. Results: The final aqueous suspension demonstrated the highest uterotonic potency (EC50 = 2.49 x 10-3mg/ml; 95% CI 1.19 x 10-3 to 5.23 x 10-3 mg/ml, p=0.0001), while sub-fraction pool number 2 (sub-fractions number 41 to 61) demonstrated the highest uterotonic potency (EC50 at 2.05 x 10-3mg/ml; 95% CI 2.09 x 10-3 to 3.85 x 10-3 mg/ml, p=0.0001). Sub-fraction pool number 2 demonstrated highest uterotonic activity, and the compound was suggested to be related to the family of glycosides. Conclusions: The study suggests the presence of a major uterotonic phytochemical constituent in the methanol root crude extract of Azanza garckeana, which was indicated to be related to the family of glycosides. Further pharmacological and toxicological studies need to be undertaken on the plant.