Antifertility screening of plants. Part IX. Effect of five indigenous plants on early pregnancy in female albino rats
Bodhankar, S.L.; Garg, S.K.; Mathur, V.S.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 62(6): 831-837
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 4435895 Document Number: 72895
Some indigenous plants reputedly possess antifertility properties when orally administered. Various extracts of some of these plants were used in an investigation to determine antifertility activity using a method which would ultimately detect anti-zygotic, blastocystoxic, anti-implantation or early abortifacient activity in adult female albino rats of proven fertility following successful mating. The rats were laparotomized on Day 10 of pregnancy and the number recorded of implantation sites in both horns of the uterus. Results of the investigation showed that: 1) None of the extracts from stems and leaves of Argemine mexicana Linn, from the seeds of Carica papaya, and from the petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of Mentha arvenis Linn showed encouraging antifertility activity; 2) The alcoholic extracts of Mentha arvenis leaves, Sapindus trifoliatus seeds and the methanol fraction of the alcoholic extract of Sapindus trifoliatus showed 100%, 100% and 80% antifertility activity respectively; 3) the alcoholic extract of Mentha arvenis inhibited implantation in 80% of rats when administered on Days 1-3 of pregnancy suggesting that it mainly acts as an anti-zygotic agent; 4) Thhe Garica papaya seed extracts did not exhibit anti-zygotic, anti-implantation, early abortifacient or antifertility activity; 5) when the methanol fraction of Sapindus trifoliatus was administered orally in rats on pregnancy Day 4-5, it inhibited implantation on 100% of the rats suggesting that it acts mainly as a blastocystoxic agent.