Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antifertility effect of aqueous extract of seeds of Cassia fistula in female rats

  • Published:
Advances in Contraception

Abstract

Oral administration of aqueous extract of seeds of Cassia fistula to mated female rats from day 1-5 of pregnancy at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight resulted in 57.14% and 71.43% prevention of pregnancy, respectively, whereas 100% pregnancy inhibition was noted at 500 mg/kg bw. In the uterine bioassay test carried out in immature bilaterally ovariectomized female rats, aqueous extract of seeds of Cassia fistula (100 mg/kg bw) increased the uterine wet weight (p<0.05) and luminal epithelial cell height (p<0.001) but did not induce premature opening of the vagina. This suggests a mild estrogenic activity of the extract. However, when the extract was administered conjointly with estradiol valerate (EDV, 0.1 mg/kg bw), it significantly (p<0.001) prevented the estrogen-induced uterotrophic effect, thus showing an antiestrogenic nature of the extract in the presence of a strong estrogen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants, 2nd edn. Vol. II, Mohan Basu: Allahabad, 1933:854.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barthakur NN, Arnold NP, Alli I. The Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula L.) fruit: an analysis of its chemical constituents. Plants Food Hum Nutr. 1995;47:55-62.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Agarwal GD, Rizvi SA, Gupta PC, Tewari JD. Structure of fistulic acid, a new colouring matter from the pods of Cassia fistula. Planta Medica. 1972;21:150-5.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Perumal Samy R, Ignacimuthu S, Sen A. Screening of 34 Indian medicinal plants for antibacterial properties. J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;62:173-82.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Esposito Avella M, Diaz A, deGracia I, de Tello R, Gupta MP. Evaluation of traditional medicine: effects of Cajanus cajan L and of Cassia fistula L on carbohydrate metabolism in mice. Rev Med Panama. 1991;16:39-45.

    Google Scholar 

  6. El-Saadany SS, El-Massry RA, Labib SM, Sitohy MZ. The biochemical role and hypocholesterolaemic potential of the legume Cassia fistula in hypercholesterolaemic rats. Nahrung. 1991;35:807-15.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bhakta T, Mukherjee PK, Mukherjee K et al. Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Cassia fistula leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;66:277-302.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bhardwaj S, Mathur R. Antifertility screening of fruits of Cassia fistula in female albino rats. Comp Physiol Ecol. 1979;4:277-9.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dorfman RI, Kincl FA. Uterotrophic activity of various phenolic steroids. Acta Endocrinol (Kobenhavn). 1966;52:619.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wakuda K, Takakura K, Nakanishi K, Kita N, Hirose M, Noda Y. Embryo-dependent induction of embryo receptivity in the mouse endometrium. J Reprod Fertil. 1999;115:315-24.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Pakrashi A, Bhattacharya K, Kabir SN, Pal AK. Flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, a potential source of contragestative agent — III: Interceptive effect of benzene extract in mouse. Contraception. 1986;34:523-36.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Goonasekera MM, Gunawardana VK, Jayasena K, Mohammed SG, Balasubramaniam S. Pregnancy terminating effect of Jatropha curcas in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1995;47:66-70.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ema M, Emiko M, Kunio K. Suppression of uterine decidualization as a cause of implantation failure induced by triphenyltin chloride in rats. Arch Toxicol. 1999;73:175-9.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jordan VC, Mittal S, Gosden B, Koch R, Liberman ME. Structure-activity relationship of estrogen. Environ Health Perspect. 1985;61:97-110.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Clark JH, Markaverich BM. Action of ovarian steroid hormones. In: Knobil E, Neill J, (eds). The Physiology of Reproduction, Vol. I, Chap. 17, New York: Raven Press, 1988:675-724.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jacob D, Sharma S, Vyas DK. Estrogenic and postcoital antifertility effect of Carica papaya seed in the rat. Ind Zool. 1986;10:127-9.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shukla S, Mathur R, Prakash AO. Antifertility profile of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988;22:51-62.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Psychoyos A, Prapas I. Inhibition of egg development and implantation in rats after post-coital administration of the progesterone antagonist RU 486. J Reprod Fertil. 1987;80:487-91.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Denker HW. Implantation: a cell biological paradox. J Exp Zool. 1993;266:541-58.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Haimovici F, Anderson DJ. Cytokines and growth factors in implantation. Microsc Res Tech. 1993;25:201-7.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kaplan-Kraicer R, Kostovetsky I, Bardin CW, Shalgi R. Tamoxifen and RU 39411 synergize with mifepristone to produce preimplantation pregnancy loss by increasing embryo transport (rat). Contraception. 1996;53:367-73.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Physiology Section, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur -, 302004, India

    R. Yadav & G.C. Jain

Authors
  1. R. Yadav
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G.C. Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yadav, R., Jain, G. Antifertility effect of aqueous extract of seeds of Cassia fistula in female rats. Advances in Contraception 15, 293–301 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006784224191

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006784224191

Keywords

Search

Navigation