Concentrations of Na+ and K+ in serum and uterine flushings of ovariectomized, pregnant and cyclic rats when treated with extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinensis flowers.

The effect of 50% ethanol and benzene extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinensis flowers was studied on the concentration of Na+ and K+ in the serum and uterine flushings of ovariectomized, mated and cyclic rats. In ovariectomized rats, both extracts given alone did not alter the K+ content of the uterine flushings but when administered with estradiol dipropionate (EDP), a partial antagonism was observed when compared to EDP given alone. Conjoint treatment of extracts with EDP plus progesterone did not induce any significant change. In mated rats, both extracts did not alter the concentration of Na+ on the day of implantation but decreased significantly the concentration of K+ in uterine fluid. In cyclic rats, the administration of the extracts for 6 and 12 days did not cause any significant change in the concentration of K+ of uterine flushings but their administration for 18 days caused a significant decrease. In all three experiments, the concentration of Na+ in uterine flushings and of Na+ and K+ of serum did not show any significant changes.