A study of the uterotonic and anti-implantation activities of some selected plant extracts and products

Abstract

Sixty one plants reputed to have anti-fertility activity were tested on female Sprague-Dawley rats, in order to isclate active compounds with a potential for use in human fertility regulation. The experiments were carried out with crude plant extracts in the first instance. If any activity was present, the extracts were fractionated. Two bioassay methods were utilized in these investigations. The extracts were assessed for. possible abortifacient effects by an ir vitre method of testing for uterctonic activity. In +this method the isotonic contractions of the isolated uterine horn of the oestrogenised rat were observed in the presence of various plant extracts. A total of fogty two extracts, one fraction and two pure compounds were tested in the in <formula> system and thirty extracts gave positive results. An ir vive method was utilized in order to determine any anti-implantation, early abortifacient and/or foetal resorption effects of these extracts. One hundred and thirty extracts as well as one hundred fractions and seven pure compounds were tested by the im vive method. The rats were administered the extracts from day 1-10 post-coitally and the anti-fertility effect was assessed on the sixteenth day at autopsy. Five plants, namely, Calotreopis gigantea, Calotropis precera, #Flumeria rubra, Juniperus sabina and Jatropha curcas were identified as highly promising leads from which anti-fertility compounds may be isolated. Since several plant extracts resulted in a loss of appetite, the effect of a reduced feed intake on reproduction in laboratory animals was also investigated. The tests demonstrated the need to monitor the feed intake when using laboratory animals for anti-fertility tests.