Abstract

EFFECT OF ARISTOLOCHIA INDICA SEED EXTRACTS ON OVARIAN AND UTERINE ACTIVITIES IN ALBINO RATS

Nasir Aahmad Dar* and Deepak Kumar Mittal

ABSTRACT

Petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform and alcohol extracts of the seeds of Aristolochia Indica were administered orally to adult, female albino rats at a dose level of 25mg/100g body weight for 30 days. The estrous cycle of these rats was irregular with prolonged estrus and metaestrus phases, and reduced diestrus and proestrus phases during the experimental period. At autopsy on day 31, ovarian weight was reduced, showing a decreased number of developing follicles, Graffian follicles and corpora lutea, and an increased number of atretic follicles in histological sections. The total cholesterol content of the ovary was increased and protein and glycogen were decreased. The weight of the uterus and its micrometric measurements in all experimental rats were increased significantly. However, the benzene extract of Aristolochia Indica seeds was more effective in causing these changes comparing to other extracts. Based on these results, the antiovulatory and estrogenic properties of Aristolochia Indica seed extracts are discussed.

Keywords: Ovary, uterus, Aristolochia Indica, antiovulatory, estrogenic.