Pregnancy interceptive activity of Melia azedarach Linn. in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats.
Ethanolic extract of the root of Melia azedarach Linn. (family: Meliaceae) collected from the Institute campus intercepted pregnancy in 60% and 75% adult female rats when administered at 250 and 500 mg/kg daily doses, respectively, on Days 1-10 post-coitum by the oral route. On fractionation, the activity was localized in the chloroform fraction of the ethanolic extract, which showed 80-100% activity at 250 mg/kg daily dose in repeat tests. In animals that became pregnant, there was also a significant reduction in mean number of implantations and all the implantations exhibited signs of resorption. Of the four major compounds isolated in sufficient quantity and characterized from the active chloroform fraction, two compounds showed only marginal (50%) contragestational effect. Further exploration of the active chloroform fraction, which is also devoid of estrogen agonistic activity at the contraceptive dose in immature rat bioassay, is being undertaken to identify and characterize the active principle(s).
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, India. gkeshri@rediffmail.com
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D000818:Animals; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D031586:Melia azedarach; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D010936:Plant Extracts