Evaluation of potential antifertility activity of total flavonoids, isolated from Portulaca oleracea L on female albino rats

Abstract

The present study isto evaluate anti-fertility activity of total flavonoids isolated fromP. oleracea L in female rats.Air-dried aerial part of P. oleracea L was used for extraction. Flavonoids were administered orally for 1-7 and 7-14 days for evaluation of anti-implantation and Abortifecient activities respectively. After completion of last dose in both studies, animals were sacrificed under light anesthesia with ether. The number of implantation sites and aborted embryoswere recorded respectively. Biochemical changes were analyzed for determination of total protein and cholesterol content in uterus. The Qualitative and Quantitative tests for total flavonoids were also carried out. When flavonoids administered orally, a strong anti-implantation activity (3.22±0.02), and Abortifecient activity (05.00) was shown at high dose (500mg/kg of b w). Biochemical changes in uterus for total protein (131.66±2.88) and cholesterol (301.15±1.62) was observed at the tested dose levels (500 mg/kg of b w). The flavonoids shows further significant (p>0.05) increase in uterus weight(74.13 ±3.78)at the same dose indicating that hormonal changes in body. The qualitative tests for flavonoids were performed and alltests were positive for flavonoids. These observations suggest that,flavonoids of P. oleracea L have anti-fertility effect in female rats.