Antifertility effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Asparagus africanus in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Asparagus africanus is claimed to have use in reproductive related health problems in some areas of Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the potential antifertility effect of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Asparagus africanus in rats.

METHODS:

Water and ethanol extracts were given by gavages to rats in the in vivo test at a dose of 300 mg/kg of body weight, and rat uterine tissue were used for the in vitro test at different concentrations.

RESULTS:

The aqueous extracts of the leaves and the roots showed an anti-implantation activity of 70% and 77%, respectively, while the ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots showed 48% and 61%, respectively. The antifertility activities of the aqueous and ethanol extracts were 40% (for leaves), 60% (for roots) and 20% (for leaves), 40% (for roots), respectively. All the extracts have resulted in significant (P< 0.05) reduction in the number of implants as compared with their respective controls. Each extract potentiated acetylcholine induced uterine contractions in a concentration dependent manner significantly (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The results obtained in this study suggest that the leaves and roots of this plant may possess hormonal properties that can modulate the reproductive function of the experimental rats.

• Authors: Geremew Tafesse, Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, Eyasu Makonnen
• Journal: African health sciences (Afr Health Sci) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 81-5 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 1729-0503 [Electronic] Uganda
• PMID: 16916296 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Contraceptive Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Ethanol

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Asparagus Plant
• Contraceptive Agents (pharmacology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Ethanol (pharmacology)
• Female
• Phytotherapy (methods)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Plant Leaves
• Plant Roots
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy, Animal
• Probability
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Uterine Contraction (drug effects)
• Uterus (drug effects)