Oxytocic effect of aquous, ethanolic, n-hexane and chloroform extracts of Xylopia aethiopica (Anonaceae) and Ocimum gratissium (Labiate) on guinea pig uterus

Xylopia aethiopica and Ocimum gratissium, are commonly used as spices and flavoring agents in Southern Nigeria. Aqueous, ethanolic, N-hexane and chloroform fractions of extracts of both plants were analysed for their phytochemical composition and oxytocic effect on the uterus of female guinea pig. Acute toxicity studies of the extracts in mice gave LD50 values of 1258.92mg/kg b.w for xylopla aethiopica and 1778.3mg/kg b.w for Ocimum gratissium, suggesting low toxicity of the extracts. Both extracts, xylopia aethioplca and Ocimum gratissium showed rich content of alkaloid 0.3% and 1.47%, flavonoid 0.99% and 0..25%, tannins 46mg/100ml and 48mg/100ml, saponins 0.56% and 0.57%, and phenol 0.21% and 0.02% respectively. The N-hexane extracts of both plants showed more oxytocic activity than aqueous, ethanolic and chloroform extracts. The studied revealed that Xylopia aethiopica extracts showed more oxytocic activity on the guinea pig uterus than extracts of ocimum gratissium. The phytochemical substances in the plants may be responsible for the medicinal properties of the spices, which form the basis for their use in herbal medicine and as food additive for breast feeding women in Nigeria.

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