Bryophyllum pinnatum Compounds Inhibit Oxytocin-Induced Signaling Pathways in Human Myometrial Cells

Abstract

Bryophyllum pinnatum has been used in the treatment of premature labor, first in anthroposophic hospitals and, recently, in conventional settings as an add-on medication. In vitro work with hTERT human myometrial cells showed that B. pinnatum leaf press juice inhibits the increase of intracellular free calcium concentration induced by oxytocin, a hormone known to play a role in labor. Our aim was to identify fractions/compounds in B. pinnatum press juice that contribute to this inhibitory effect, and to investigate their effect on oxytocin-driven activation of the MAPK cascade. Several fractions/compounds from B. pinnatum press juice led to a concentration-dependent decrease of oxytocin-induced increase of intracellular free calcium concentration, but none of them was as strong as B. pinnatum press juice. However, the combination of a bufadienolide and a flavonoid-enriched fraction was as effective as B. pinnatum press juice, and their combination had a synergistic effect. B. pinnatum press juice inhibited oxytocin-driven activation of MAPKs SAPK/JNK and ERK1/2, an effect also exerted by the bufadienolide-enriched fraction. The effect of B. pinnatum press juice on oxytocin-induced signaling pathways was comparable to that of the oxytocin-receptor antagonist and tocolytic agent atosiban. Our findings further substantiate the use of B. pinnatum press juice preparations in the treatment of preterm labor.

Experimental Urolithiasis Model to assess Phyto-fractions as Anti-lithiatic Contributors: A Herbaceutical Approach

“…Previous studies on rutin as a potent antioxidant and anti-urolithiatic agent have been well document by Enogieru, et al, (2018) and Ghodasara et al, (2010) respectively. Further, Radwan et al (2021) and Santos et al, (2021) have explored the possible role of the K. pinnata attributes in hemostasis and oxytocin signaling pathways respectively.…”

Phytotherapy in obstetrics – therapeutic indications, limits, and dangers

“…As pregnant women generally receive classical medication for various pathological situations, and at least one in five pregnant women consumes natural products simultaneously, the potential interactions between them must be considered [ 24 ].…”

Bioactive Compounds from Kalanchoe Genus Potentially Useful for the Development of New Drugs

“…The main bufadienolides present in the enriched fraction in both studies were bersaldegenin-1-acetate ( 13 ), bersaldegenin-3-acetate ( 14 ), bersaldegenin-1,3,5-orthoacetate ( 9 ), and bryophyllin A ( 7 ) [ 33 , 34 ]. A more recent study of the authors evaluated the effects of bioactive compounds from K. pinnata in the oxytocin signaling pathways in human myometrial cell cultures and showed that both bufadienolides and flavonoids take part in the cell events that lead to the inhibition of oxytocin signaling by K. pinnata leaf extracts [ 35 ]. The authors evaluated a bufadienolide-enriched fraction, a flavonoid-enriched fraction, and bersaldegenin-1,3,5-orthoacetate.…”

“…K. gracilis ) presenting a high content of flavonoids showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities [ 58 ]. In some of these studies, the effect of the whole extract is higher than that of the fractions [ 35 , 58 ], indicating a synergistic effect of these compounds.…”