Department of Scientific Research Center, College of Science, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2023 Dec;169:106783. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2023.106783. Epub 2023 Sep 17.
Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L. (C. aronia) is one of the most important medicinal plants used widely in folk medicine for the prevention of several diseases due to its content of several bioactive compounds like phenolic acid, aromatic amines, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids. This study investigated the uterodilation effect of methanol extract (ME) of C. aronia unripe fruit on the uterine smooth muscle in rats. The mechanism of action underlying the plant's extract was also screened. The unripe fruits were cleaned and extracted in methanol. The extract (1.9-4 mg/ml) was tested on rat uterine relaxation in calcium-free Kreb's solution and potassium chloride-induced uterine contraction. The plant extract was also studied in the presence of antagonists in separate experiments to determine the role of various ion channels and hyperpolarizing agents. The plant extract showed an uterodilation effect on the uterus, in which the ME produced a considerable relaxant effect. The results confirmed that the induced dilation was mediated mainly by the nitric oxide pathway and the activation of potassium channels with a limited role of the prostaglandin pathway and calcium channel activation. This in-vitro study provides the first scientific evidence of the claimed effect of C. aronia on uterine relaxation.
山楂（Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L.）为蔷薇科山楂属植物，其未成熟果实作为药食同源的植物，在民间广泛用于预防多种疾病，这与其富含多种生物活性成分如酚酸类、芳香胺类、原花青素和类黄酮等有关。本研究旨在探讨山楂未成熟果实甲醇提取物（ME）对大鼠子宫平滑肌的舒张作用及其作用机制。首先将未成熟的山楂果实清洗并在甲醇中提取，提取物（1.9-4mg/ml）在无钙 Krebs 溶液和氯化钾诱导的子宫收缩中测试对大鼠子宫松弛的作用。在单独的实验中，用拮抗剂研究植物提取物，以确定各种离子通道和超极化剂的作用。研究结果表明，山楂提取物对子宫具有舒张作用，其 ME 产生了相当大的松弛作用。结果证实，诱导的舒张主要通过一氧化氮途径和钾通道的激活介导，前列腺素途径和钙通道的激活作用有限。这项体外研究为山楂对子宫松弛作用的宣称提供了第一个科学证据。
