Antifertility activity of stems of plumbago rosea in female albino rats

Abstract

In the present study, Plumbago rosea Linn. (Plumbaginaceae), one of the folk medicinal plants commonly used as an antifertility agent, was evaluated for its antifertility effect. Five successive solvent extracts, petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol, and water extracts, of the stems of P. rosea were studied on estrous cycle at two dose levels, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively. Of these, the acetone extract was found to be most effective in interrupting the normal estrous cycle of rats (p < 0.05) (p < 0.01). The rats exhibited prolonged diestrous stage of the estrous cycle with consequent temporary inhibition of ovulation. The antiovulatory activity was reversible on withdrawal of the extract. The effective acetone extract was further studied on estrogenic functionality in rats. The acetone extract showed significant estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity (p < 0.05) (p < 0.001). Histological studies of the uteri further confirmed the estrogenic activity of acetone extract. The results indicated the antifertility activity of stems of Plumbago rosea in female Wistar rats. © 2008 Informa UK Ltd.