Finding new agents in medicinal plants to act on the myometrium.

This report summarizes work investigating the effects of some medicinal plants on uterine contraction. As there is a clinical need to find better drugs to help control uterine activity, and novel compounds are sought, the mechanisms whereby the medicinal plants exert their effects, as well as their major compounds, are discussed. By identifying the plants, major constituents and mechanisms, this review also illustrates the potential for development of new drugs, so that better ways to treat uterine disorders will be available to women worldwide.