Abstract

EFFECTS OF CYCLEA PELTATA (HOOKS AND THOM.) ROOT EXTRACTS ON REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF FEMALE RAT

Sujesh M.* and Prof. Dr. Jyoti Harindran

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants are considered as a rich resource of ingredients which can be used in drug development. Cyclea peltata (Hooks and Thom.) is a slender twining shrub, belonging to Menispermaceae family. Root extract of related Cyclea species reported to have estrogenic activity and anti-fertility effect. Phyto-estrogenic substances can manipulate the reproductive function in animals. The drugs which affect the reproductive function of female rat can cause change in the normal morphology of reproductive tract or duration of particular phases of estrus cycle. For staging the cycle histological changes in reproductive tract and criteria defining end of one stage and beginning of other stage is very essential. In this study attempt was made to characterise vaginal smear changes in relation with histological changes in the vaginal epithelium and to assess the effect of pet. ether extract [CPPE] and ethyl acetate extract [CPEA] of root of Cyclea peltata on vaginal smear characteristics and individual phases of estrus cycle. The result of the study shows that pet. ether extract of Cyclea peltata [CPPE] and ethyl acetate extract of Cyclea peltata [CPEA] significantly prolonged the diestrus and metestrus phase of estrus cycle (p<0.05) when compaired with control. This extracts have influence on morphology of vaginal epithelium of female albino rats. Phytochemical screening and GC-MS study showed presence of steroids, alkaloids and fatty acids like hexadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, propanoic acid etc. Biological properties including antioxidant, estrogenic activities reported in some of these constituents.

Keywords: Estrus Cycle, Cyclea peltata root, Pet. ether extract, Ethyl acetate extract. 1. INTRODUCTION The factors like population rise, prohibitive cost of treatments, side effects of synthetic medicines, resistance to currently used drugs increased the emphasis