effect of cnidoscolous aconitifolius (miller) i.m. johnston leaf extract on reproductive hormones of female rats

Background: the increase in the rate of infertility in women has prompted the need tosearch for plants with antifertility potentials.objective: the effect of administration of aqueous extract of cnidoscolousaconitifolius leaves for seven days on reproductive hormones of female wistar rats wasinvestigated.materials and methods: sixty female albino rats were grouped into four (a, b, c andd) of 15 each. group a (the control) received orally 6.5 ml kg-1 body weight of distilledwater on daily basis for 7 days. groups b, c and d were treated like the control exceptthat they received 250, 500 and 1000 mg kg-1 body weight of the extract.results: phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids,saponins, phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, phlobatannins and triterpenes.administration of the extract produced significant increase (p < 0.05) in the serumprolactin concentration whereas those of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating andluteinizing hormones were significantly reduced.conclusion: the alterations in the female rat reproductive hormones by the extract areindications of adverse effect on the maturation and ovulation of follicles. consequently,the extract may impair fertility and conception in female rats. thus, the cnidoscolousaconitifolius leaf extract may be explored as a female contraceptive.