Effects on anaesthetised animals of an oxytocic glycoside extracted from certain species of Albizia

Abstract

The actions on anaesthetised guinea-pigs, rabbits, cats and monkeys of a glycoside, “albitocin”, obtained from Albizia gummifera, and some other species of Albizia, used by East African witchdoctors to accelerate labour and induce abortion, are described. On intravenous injection there is a transient fall in systemic blook pressure and an increase in uterine activity, with the pregnant uterus exhibiting greater sensitivity. Both responses occur in the presence of atropine and antihistamines, and in monkeys after bilateral vagotomy and hexamethonium, but a prolonged small rise in blood pressure occurs on intraperitoneal injection of the drug. Electrocardiograph records in rabbits and monkeys exhibit no consistent acute or chronic changes in the electrical activity of the heart resulting from the injection of the drug even in lethal doses, almost up to the time of death.