Journal of ethnopharmacologyMay 30, 2006

Ligustilide reduces natural and stimulated contractions in rat uterus

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Updated Mar 25, 2026

Abstract

LIG (ligustilide) inhibited spontaneous uterine contractions in isolated rat uterine tissue with an EC(50) of 4.4 microg/ml.

LIG reduced the contractions induced by prostaglandin F2alpha by 95.3% at 8 microg/ml.
Acetylcholine chloride-induced contractions were inhibited by approximately 73.9% at the same dosage.
LIG significantly affected oxytocin-induced contractions in uterine horns, both in normal and calcium-free solutions.
The compound also showed concentration-dependent inhibition of contractions induced by potassium depolarization, with an EC(50) of 3.3 microg/ml.
The findings suggest that LIG may have a non-specific antispasmodic effect on uterine smooth muscles.

Simplified

In the present study, the effects of ligustilide (LIG) on uterine contraction in vitro were investigated. In isolated rat uterine, LIG (2-8 microg/ml) inhibited the spontaneous periodic contraction in a concentration-dependent manner (EC(50)=4.4 microg/ml, 95% confidence interval 2.7-6.1 microg/ml), and attenuated prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF(2)alpha)- or acetylcholine chloride (Ach)-induced uterine contractions. At 8 microg/ml, LIG nearly completely blocked the PGF(2)alpha-induced contractions (95.3%). In the case of Ach-induced contraction, about 73.9% was inhibited by LIG at this dosage. It was also observed that LIG affected significantly oxytocin-induced increase in the contraction of uterine horns that were incubated not only in the Locke solution but also in a Ca(2+)-free solution. In addition, LIG caused concentration-dependent inhibition of uterine contraction induced by K(+) (56.3 Mm) depolarization, reaching the significant level at 2 microg/ml (EC(50)=3.3 microg/ml, 95% confidence interval 2.5-4.1 microg/ml). The findings clearly show that LIG has multiple effects on the uterine smooth muscles, suggesting that LIG possesses a non-specific antispasmodic function. The data also imply strongly that LIG is one of active ingredients of Danggui and has the potential to be developed into an effective drug for the prevention and treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea.

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Ligustilide reduces natural and stimulated contractions in rat uterus

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