Antifertility activity of ethanolic extracts of Plumbago indica and Aerva lanata on albino rats

Abstract

The ethanolic extract of roots of Plumbago indica and aerial parts of Aerva lanata were evaluated for antifertility activity using antiimplantation, abortificient, and motility of rat spermatozoa (in-vitro) models. The anti-implantation effect seems to be depending on the dose as well as the initiation of treatment on specific days of pregnancy. P. indica has showed percentage pre-implantation loss of 40% and 50% against control at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b/w. Percentage pregnancy failure among treated groups was 60% and 70% at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b/w, whereas A. lanata has shown pre-implantation loss of 20% and 30% against
control at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg b/w, respectively. Percentage pregnancy failure among treated groups was 30% and 40% at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg b/w, respectively. Both P. indica and A. lanata at a concentration of 10% have shown no motility of rat spermatozoa within 60 seconds.
Key words: Plumbago indica, Aerva lanata, anti-implantation, abortifacient, spermatozoa