Varsha Zade, Dinesh Dabhadkar
The present work deals with antifertility effect of the alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera stem bark in female albino rats. Pregnant rats weighing 130 to 200 gm were randomized into 4 groups. Rats were laprotomised on 10th day of pregnancy and live fetuses were observed in both the horns of the uterus. Rats in group 1 (control) were orally administered, with 0.5 ml of distilled water once daily while those in group 2 to 4 (experimental groups) were administered 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight doses of alcoholic extract of M. oleifera stem bark respectively. The doses were administered from day 11th to 15th of pregnancy of rats then the animals were allowed to go full term. The effect of alcoholic extract of M. oleifera stem bark on estrogenic activity and estrous cycle was observed to confirm the antifertility activity. Clinical toxicity symptoms such as respiratory distress, salivation, weight loss, dull eyes, diarrhea, change in the appearance of fur and mortality were not observed in the animals, at any period of the experiment. The alcoholic extract of M. oleifera stem bark exhibited significant antifertility activity (26.26 to 100%). It was found that the extract significantly reduced the number of live fetuses, whereas the resorption index and post implantation losses increased significantly. The % of abortion was found to be highest (100%) with 100 mg/kg dose of alcoholic extract of M. oleifera stem bark. In ovariectomized immature young rats, the extract showed significant estrogenic effect (vaginal opening, vaginal cornification and increased uterine weight) and also prolonged the estrous cycle and particularly diestrous phase in the experimental animals at the dose 100 mg/kg body weight of M. oleifera stem bark.
