Abstract
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).
Keywords
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References
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
June 5,
2003
Received in revised form:
March 13,
2003
Received:
September 16,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
