Extracellular Calcium and Induction of Uterine Muscle Contraction by Aqueous Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Mucuna pruriens

Calcium (ca^2+) serves as an essential signaling molecule in biological systems, regulating a wide range of cellular processes of which uterine smooth muscle contraction is among. the present study was designed to evaluate the involvement of ca^2+ on isolated uterine muscle contraction induced by aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of mucuna pruriens (m. pruriens). uterine muscle contraction induced by the extract was concentration-dependent and was completely abolished (100%; p<0.05) in nominally ca^2+ -free physiological salt solution and in solutions containing (egta 1.5 mmol), lanthanium chloride (1.5 and 3 mmol), caffeine (3and 4.4 mmol) and verapamil (0.007- 0.14 μmol). it is concluded that the inability of the extract to produce contractions in ca^2+ -free media, indicates that it lacks the ability to mobilize calcium from intracellular storage sites. hence, its uterine stimulatory property is therefore solely dependent on extracellular ca^2+.