title: Antifertility activity ofThevetia peruviana(Pers.) K. Schum leaf in female Sprague-Dawley rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thevetia peruviana(Pers.) K. Schum. (Apocynaceae) is known to possess cardioactive glycoside such as thevetin A, thevetin B, neriifolin, peruvoside, thevetoxin, and ruvoside. Traditionally,T. peruvianaleaves are used as abortifacient. The aim of the present study is to evaluate antifertility potential ofT. peruvianaleaves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac glycoside freed leaves ofT. peruvianawere extracted with methanol using maceration method. The dried cardiac glycoside-free methanolic extract ofT. peruvianaleaves (TPL-Me-G) was screened for phytoconstituents and evaluated for its effect on estrogen-primed female Sprague-Dawley rat uterus model. It was further studied for effects on the estrous cycle, implantation, and effect on estrogen and progesterone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA followed by Dunnett'st-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alkaloids, flavonoids, essential oils, carbohydrates, and amino acids were found to be present in the glycoside-free extract. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in n-butanol: acetone: water (4:1:5) revealed the presence of quercetin and kaempferol. The presence of flavonoids (quercetin 0.0326% and kaempferol 0.138% on dry weight basis) was reconfirmed by high-performance TLC analysis. The extract was able to induce uterine contractions (EC50, 0.170 mg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner. Further investigation showed significant (P< 0.001) extension of estrous cycle and anti-implantation activity of the extract by reduction of the progesterone level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methanolic extract ofT. peruvianaleaves (TPL-Me-G) containing quercetin 0.0326% and kaempferol 0.138% possesses a significant (P< 0.001) antifertility potential by virtue of decreasing the progesterone level.
authors.affiliation: Rayat and Bahra Institute of Pharmacy, Mohali, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Jhuma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lingaya's University, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Snehendu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Avtar C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D031052:Thevetia; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute / Q000379:methods; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004967:Estrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Abortifacient; Thevetia peruviana; anti-implantation; flavonoid; kaempferol; progesterone; quercetin