The abortifacient effects of five plant species commonly used by Niger
ian traditional birth attendants to achieve relatively painless delive
ry, hasten fetal delivery and evacuate retained placenta were investig
ated. Aqueous extracts of the plants were prepared and screened pharma
cologically using isolated smooth muscle preparations and pregnant ani
mals. The extracts were also subjected to toxicological and phytochemi
cal studies. The extracts contracted isolated uterine smooth muscle pr
eparation and potentiated oxytocin-induced responses of the uterus. In
the whole animal, the extracts caused expulsion of fetuses in the thi
rd trimesters of pregnancy. These results appear to justify their trad
itional uses.