Abstract
Background: Preterm birth is a worldwide tragedy with a high incidence. Several medications are used to inhibit acute preterm labor, but tocolysis by these medicines do not extend pregnancy beyond 1-2 days.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to discover new medications from plant extracts or their active compounds which inhibit the uterine contractions in order to treat preterm labor.
Data Sources: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and IranMedex databases were searched up to 1st February 2012 with the most relevant keywords.
Study selection: All studies in which plant extracts or their active compounds inhibited the uterine contractions both in vivo and in vitro were included.
The Results: Of initial search, 259 records were reviewed and finally 72 were included among which only 31 studies isolated an active compound from the plants extract belonging mostly to classes of flavonoids and terpenes classes. Flavonoids have been known as a phosphodiesterase (PDE) and a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. It seems that the uterolytic activity of reviewed flavonoids such as naringenin, kaempferol and quercetin, especially in a calcium free solution, was via these inhibitory pathways.
Conclusion: Laboring uterus response to dissimilar tocolytics differs from that of non-laboring uterus. In order to find a treatment for preterm labor, future studies should focus on the laboring uterus and also determine the structure activity relationship of the different tocolytics. This systematic review was registered to the PROSPERO with code number CRD42015027551.
Keywords: Evidence-based medicine, natural products, systematic review, uterine, relaxant effect.
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that analyzes and explores biological data. This field combines biology and information system. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has attracted great attention as it tries to replicate human intelligence. It has become common technology for analyzing and solving complex data and problems and encompasses sub-fields of machine ...read more
Latest Advancements in Biotherapeutics.
The scope of this thematic issue is to comprehensively explore the rapidly evolving landscape of biotherapeutics, emphasizing breakthroughs in precision medicine. Encompassing diverse therapeutic modalities, the issue will delve into the latest developments in monoclonal antibodies, CRISPR/Cas gene editing, CAR-T cell therapies, and innovative drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticle-based ...read more
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Medical Data Analysis and Human Information Analysis in Healthcare
The intersection of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) with the pharmaceutical industry is revolutionizing traditional paradigms in drug discovery and development. These technologies have introduced innovative approaches to analyzing complex datasets and predicting chemical properties, leading to more efficient identification and optimization of drug candidates. By employing sophisticated ...read more
Related Journals
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Bioactive Compounds
Current Cancer Drug Targets
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews
Current Diabetes Reviews
Current Drug Safety
Current Drug Targets
Current Drug Therapy
Related Books
Anthocyanins: Pharmacology and Nutraceutical Importance
Computer-Aided Drug Discovery Methods: A Brief Introduction
The Roles and Responsibilities of Clinical Pharmacists in Hospital Settings
Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants for Cancer Therapy and Chemoprevention
Opportunities for Biotechnology Research and Entrepreneurship
Drug Addiction Mechanisms in the Brain
Software and Programming Tools in Pharmaceutical Research
Objective Pharmaceutics: A Comprehensive Compilation of Questions and Answers for Pharmaceutics Exam Prep
Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs Affecting Cardiovascular and Endocrine Systems
Research Methodology and Project Management in Biotechnology
61
3