uterine relaxant effect of curcumin in rats; an in vitro study

ABSTRACT

Addition of curcumin in concentrations of 1.4 x 10[-5] M, 2.8 x 10[-5] M and 5.6 x 10 [-5]M to the organ bath, resulted in significant inhibitions in the normal uterine contractions of non-pregnant rats in the diestrus stage. The recorded decreases in frequencies of uterine contractions were 32%, 47% and 67%, while the inhibitions were 50%, 67% and 76% for the amplitude, respectively. The reductions in area under the curve [AUC] of contractions were 67%, 71% and 86% for the added concentrations, respectively. Pretreatment with curcumin in the previous concentrations revealed inhibitory effects on the uterine response to oxytocin [10[-11]M] amounting to 77%, 78% and 72% in AUC with respect to that obtained post-addition of oxytocin alone. These results indicate that the tocolytic potential of curcumin may involve oxytocin receptor-dependent pathway