Contraceptive Effect of Methanol Leaves Extract of Dalbergia saxatilis on Female Albino Rats

Abstract

Contraception is the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse. This research was aimed at studying the contraceptive effect of methanol leaves extract of Dalbergia saxatilis on female albino rats. Standard laboratory methods were used to test for the presence of the following phytochemicals; alkaloids, anthraquinones, anthraquinone glycosides, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. The LD50 of Dalbergia saxatilis was determined by the up and down method and fifteen rats were used. The contraceptive effect was evaluated via anti ovulation, anti-implantation, and hormonal assay respectively in female albino rats. Female albino rats were treated with varying concentrations of methanol leaf extract of Dalbergia saxatilis. Dalbergia saxatilis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, saponin glycoside, glycoside, cardiac glycoside, tannins and steroids, balsams, anthraquinone and terpenoid were not detected. The results showed that Dalbergia saxatilis is relatively safe as LD50 is >3000 mg/kg. Subchronic (21 days) administration of methanol leaves extract of Dalbergia saxatilis exhibited a reduction in serum progesterone and estrogen levels significantly (P<0.05) at 300 mg/kg BW and 600 mg/kg BW when compared to the normal control. The histology of the anti-implantation effect of the extract on the uterus showed that the endometrial thickness reduced in a dose-dependent manner while the anti-ovulation effect also showed a reduction in the number of follicles in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, the use of Dalbergia saxatilis as an antifertility agent in traditional medicine has pharmacological basis and this research validates the traditional claim.