title: Abortifacient potential for the epigeal parts of Peganum harmala.
abstract: The effect of methanol and acetone extracts of the epigeal parts of Peganum harmala, a common medicinal plant among Bedouins in Israel, was studied on several parameters of reproduction in female rats. The methanol extract at a dose of 2.5 g/kg/day, offered in food or in drinking suspension for 30 days, significantly prolonged diestrus by 1.0 day. The methanol extracts at doses of 2.0, 2.5 and 3.5 g/kg/day appeared to produce a dose-dependent significant decrease in litter size. No change in the physical and nutritional status of the animals and no adverse toxicological effects were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Terkel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Egozi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nyska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007557:Israel; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts