Volumes Archive
Vol. 45, Number 3, 2003
Anticonceptive and antifertility activities of various Rula graveolens extracts in female rats
Mohsen S. AI-Mahmoud*, Ahmed Elbetieha**, Rana A. AI-Muhur**
*Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy. Faculty of Pharmacy. Jordan University of Science and Teclmology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
**Department of Applied Biological Sciences. Faculty of Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology. P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110 Jordan.
Abstract
The anti-conceptive. anti-fertility and reproductive effects of various R. groveolens extracts were tested in Sprague-Dawley adult female rats. Intragastric administration of 800 mg/kg of aqueous 1, aqueous 2. methanol, ethanoL hexane, ether or dichloromethane extracts of the R. graveolens aerial parts from day 1 to day 6 post coitum had no significant anti-implantation activity in rats. The ether extract administered at 800 mg/kg exhibited severe toxicity and was inactive as anti-implantation agent when administered at 400 mg/kg into the rat. Administration of aqueous1, aqueous2, ethanol or hexane preparations significantly increased the number of resorbed embryos. None of the extracts had significant effect all maternal body weight gain. However. aqueons2, methanol, ethanol or dichloromethane extracts showed a significant reduction in fetal body weight. Placental weight was significantly reduced in female's ingested methanol. ethanoL ether or dichloromethane extracts. On the other hand, administration of hexane extract (400 mg/kg) of R. graveolens on days 6- 15 post-coitum significantly decreased the number of females ,with born fetuses and increased the mortality rate among lhe borne fetuses, Prenatal exposure (days 6- 15 of gestation) of male and female rat offspring to 400 mg/kg hexane extract of R. graveolens caused a significant delay on the tinting of testicular descent and vaginal opening respectively. Likewise, administration of hexane extract (400 mg/kg) of R. graveolens for 30 consecutive days had no significant effect on the occurrence of pregnancy in female rats.
The results strongly suggest that R. graveolens extracts had adverse effects on female rat reproduction.
Key words: R. graveolens, fertility, reproduction, rats
