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The plant Nauclea latifolia has been reported to be used by traditional healers to arrest pre-term labour. The ethanolic extract of the root of N. latifolia was screened for activity via agonist-induced contractions of uterine smooth muscles in non-pregnant female albino rats. The extract, at 0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml (final bath concentration), was tested against oxytocin (4×10 -5 to 8×10 -2 I.U/ml: final bath concentration), acetylcholine (0.04 to 40 µg/ml: final bath concentration) and ergometrine (0.05 to 100 µg/ml: final bath concentration) induced contractions invitro. The effect of the extract was compared to that of (0.004 µg/ml: final bath concentration) salbutamol and (0.004 µg/ml: final bath concentration) atropine. Both concentrations of the extract significantly shifted the concentration response curves of oxytocin (P<0.01), acetylcholine (P<0.0001) and ergometrine (P<0.0001) to the right with a slight depression of the Emax. This shift was more with the 0.2 mg/ml concentration, thus suggesting the possibility of a dose dependent action. There was no statistical significant decrease in Emax by 0.1 mg/ml of the extract, while the 0.2 mg/ml produced a significant depression (P<0.05) of the Emax, which like salbutamol could not be overwhelmed by higher concentrations of oxytocin. Similarly a significant reduction of the Emax of acetylcholine induced contractions was produced by 0.2 mg/ml, while both concentrations (0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml) produced significant (P<0.0001) reduction in Emax of ergometrine. It can thus be concluded that N latifolia root extract reduces oxytocin, acetylcholine and ergometrine-induced uterine contractions. These inhibitions were non-competitive. The result indicates an anti-abortifacient property.

Elaeis guineensis-Jacq (Arecaceae) is reported for the treatment of a variety of ailments notable amongst these are diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The present study is aimed at evaluating its anti-hyperlipedemic effect, via olive oil induced hyperlipidemia.The aqueous extract was obtained from a decoction of the roots, and later administered to olive oil loaded rats (5 ml/kg). Administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg of the extract was done 30 min before olive oil administration. Distilled water was used as control, while atorvastatin (50 mg/kg) was the standard drug. All administrations were done orally. Blood samples were withdrawn via the abdominal aorta 2 and 4 h after olive oil administration and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 to 20 min. The plasma samples obtained were subjected to biochemical analysis for HDL, LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Acute treatment with the extract points to a significant (p<0.05) reduction in total cholesterol by (35.86 and 56.32%), LDL (61.27 and 20%) and triglycerides (53.87 and 71.23%) by 250 mg/kg at the 2 nd and 4 th h respectively. At the 500 mg/kg dose, a significant reduction (p<0.05) was also obtained in TC by (36.88 and 34.84%), TG (69.51 and 51.77%) and LDL (66.19 and 50%) at the 2 nd and 4 th h respectively. While a significant increase (p<0.0001) at both doses of the extract was noted for the HDL by (295.29 and 6.72% for 250; 309.33 and 43.21% for 500 mg/kg) at 2 nd and 4 th h respectively. The effect of the extract was noted to be more pronounced in the 2 nd h in comparison with the 4 th h. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. The plant possesses hypolipidemic effect, considering the increase and decrease in HDL and LDL respectively and thus a useful remedy for hyperlipdemia

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