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Abstract
This study investigates the potential post-coital contraceptive mechanisms of the
crude extract of Sri Lankan marine red algae, Gelidiella acerosa, using rats. The
dose used was 1000 mg/kg/day and the route of administration was oral. The results
showed that the crude extract possessed potent post-coital contraceptive activity
when administered on days 7–8 of pregnancy indicating the presence of a narrow window
in its action. The post-coital contraceptive activity was due to an elevated post-implantation
loss (by 89%) resulting from fetal death between days 9–14 of pregnancy. The extract
was neither estrogenic nor anti-estrogenic nor stressor but appeared to be anti-progestational
(reduced ovarian progesterone output). It is suggested that the crude extract may
reduce the ovarian progesterone release possibly via anti-platelet and PGE2-depressing activity.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 13,
1995
Received in revised form:
June 13,
1995
Received:
January 9,
1995
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
