IN VIVO AND IN VITRO ANTI-FERTILITY AND ANTI-IMPLANTATION PROPERTIES OF LEONOTIS OCYMIFOLIA IN RATS

Authors

  • Geremew Tafesse
  • Yalemtsehay Mekonnen
  • Eyasu Makonnen

Keywords:

Anti-fertility, Anti-implantation, Leonotis ocymifolia, aqueous extract, ethanol extract, leaves, roots,

Abstract

The anti-fertility effect of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Leonotis ocymifolia were studied both in vivo and in vitro. The anti-implantation and anti-fertility activities of the ethanol leaves extract were 37% and 20%, respectively. The body weight recorded for 19 days starting from day 1 of pregnancy showed that all rats of the control groups showed considerable weight gains over the period of 19 days. The weight gained by the rats treated with aqueous root extract was significantly less as compared to the controls. On the contrary, those treated with both aqueous and ethanol leaf extract did not show a significant difference in their weight gains over the same period. Aqueous root and leaf extracts reduced the number of implants significantly. No significant difference was, however, observed between the average number of implants counted in rats treated with ethanol leaf extract and the control group. All extracts were observed to increase acetylcholine induced uterine contraction. The mean percentage contractions showed by these extracts in the presence of acetylcholine were significantly different from that of acetylcholine alone (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the leaves and roots of this plant may possess hormonal properties that can modulate the reproductive function of the rats.

Author Biographies

Geremew Tafesse

Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Dilla College of Teachers’ Education and Health Science, Debub University, Dilla, Ethiopia

Yalemtsehay Mekonnen

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Eyasu Makonnen

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Published

2006-01-07

How to Cite

Tafesse, G., Mekonnen, Y., & Makonnen, E. (2006). IN VIVO AND IN VITRO ANTI-FERTILITY AND ANTI-IMPLANTATION PROPERTIES OF LEONOTIS OCYMIFOLIA IN RATS. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2(2), 103 –. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/43

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2005)

Section

Research Papers

License

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