Evaluation of contraceptive activity of a mineralo-herbal preparation in Sprague-Dawley rats.
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to evaluate a marketed mineralo-herbal preparation containing plants known to have potent contraceptive activity, or contraindicated for use during pregnancy in folklore/ancient Indian literature and recommended for use as an appetizer and headache, hyperacidity and chronic constipation reliever for effect on spermatogenesis and implantation-cum-early postimplantation events in adult Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
The preparation, suspended in distilled water with the addition of sterile gum acacia, was administered at 1 g/kg daily dose (extrapolated from human dose on surface area basis) to male rats covering one spermatogenic cycle and to female rats during the entire preimplantation and early postimplantation period by oral route. Fertility performance of male rats was tested following mating with untreated fertile females.


RESULTS
Findings of this study indicate that the mineralo-herbal preparation at this dose and schedule produced no discernible effect on weight of testis, epididymis and accessory glands, spermatogenesis, vasal sperm picture or mating rate in male rats when administered during the period covering one spermatogenic cycle, but caused significant reduction in number of implantations in females mated with these male rats as well as in female rats treated during the postcoital period.


CONCLUSIONS
Any adverse effect on fertility/reproductive health following administration over longer periods/at higher doses in humans habituated to continuous use of this preparation cannot be completely ruled out from this limited study. Findings also suggest caution in indiscriminate use of this and other such preparations containing varying amounts of plants/plant products reported to possess contraceptive property and available for other pharmacological indications over-the-counter in most countries.
Srivastava
Shobha Rani
SR
Endocrinology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, India.
Kesarwani
Saurabh
S
Keshri
Govind
G
Singh
Man Mohan
MM
D000818:Animals; D029974:Carum; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D031645:Embelia; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D008297:Male; D018515:Plant Leaves; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018517:Plant Roots; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds; D029846:Senna Plant; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D029766:Terminalia; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations