Effects of Beta‑sitosterol on Isolated Human Non-Pregnant Uterus in Comparison to Prostaglandin E2
Cristina Occhiuto2, Domenico Trombetta2, Antonella Smeriglio2, Emanuele Sturlese3, Francesco Occhiuto2★★ Corresponding author
- 1Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
- 2Department of Human Pathology of the Adult and of the Development Age of the University of Messina, “G. Martino,” Messina, Italy.
CORRESPONDENCE
Francesco Occhiuto
Department of Human Pathology of the Adult and of the Development Age of the University of Messina, “G. Martino,” Messina, Italy.
Received: 26-04-2017; Revised: 13-06-2017.
Volume 14, Issue 55S · pp. S118–S122 · PUBLISHED 28 June 2018 · DOI: 10.4103/pm.pm_163_17
ABSTRACT
Background: Beta‑sitosterol (β‑sitosterol) is one of the several phytosterols widely studied for its potential to reduce benign prostatic hyperplasia and blood cholesterol levels. Objective: In the present study, the effects of β‑sitosterol on spontaneous and agonist‑induced contractions in in vitro nonpregnant human uterus with respect to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were investigated. Materials and Methods: Myometrial strips, measuring approximately 15 mm × 4 mm × 2 mm, were attained from hysterectomy samples of premenopausal women. Longitudinal muscle strips were mounted on tissue baths, under physiological conditions, to measure their isometric contraction. The effects of cumulative amounts of β‑sitosterol on spontaneous motility in the absence and presence of prazosin, atropine, fulvestran, indomethacin, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and on agonist‑induced motor activity, were examined. Results: On strips in the follicular phase, both β‑sitosterol (1–100 µg/ml) and PGE2 (0.1–10 µg/ml) increase, in a concentration‑dependent manner, muscular basic tonus and amplitude and frequency of spontaneous uterine contractions; whereas on strips obtained during periovulatory phase, β‑sitosterol and PGE2 cause inhibition of uterine motility. For contractile response, the effective concentrations (EC50) were 47.8 µg/ml and 5.19 µg/ml, respectively. Unlike indomethacin, the tissue pretreatment with prazosin, fulvestran, atropine, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid did not affect the contractile uterine responses to β‑sitosterol. Furthermore, the β‑sitosterol was able to potentiate the contractile response induced by acetylcholine and vasopressin. Conclusions: These observations suggest that β‑sitosterol may be a useful modulator of the uterine motility during menstrual cycle, facilitating female fertility.
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Occhiuto, C., Trombetta, D., Smeriglio, A., Sturlese, E., & Occhiuto, F. (2018). Effects of Beta‑sitosterol on Isolated Human Non-Pregnant Uterus in Comparison to Prostaglandin E2. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 14(55S), S118–S122. https://doi.org/10.4103/pm.pm_163_17