contraceptive efficacy of aqueous extract of xylopia aethiopica (dunal) a.rich. fruit in female sprague dawley rats

Globally, herbal contraceptives remain a viable option for women in rural settlements with unmet contraceptive needs. pharmacological reports of the male contraceptive potential of xylopia aethiopica (dunal) a.rich. fruit exist in literature,but there is a paucity of information on its female contraceptive potential. this study evaluated the efficacy of aqueousextract of x. aethiopica fruit (aexaf) as a reversible contraceptive remedy in female sprague dawley rats against a combined oral contraceptive drug containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (coc-eel). aexaf was obtained by boilingair-dried pulverized fruit samples in water for 15 minutes. phytochemical screening of aexaf was carried out. mature female rats (30) were assigned into six groups, five per group, with ±20 g weight difference within each group. group areceived water; groups b, c, d and e received 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg/b.w. doses of aexaf, respectively; groupf received 3.6 μg/kg/b.w. dose of coc-eel. coc-eel and aexaf were administered orally, once daily, for 21 days. after 14 days of treatment, mature male rats were introduced to the females, two males per group, for 7 days. litter sizewas recorded after delivery. rats that did not produce pups were immediately re-introduced to male rats for 7 days and sacrificed after another 7 days; the number of fetuses in their uteri was determined. the data obtained was analyzed usingunpaired-t test. phytochemical screening of aexaf revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins. high contraceptive efficacy (80%) with 100% reversibility was observed at 50 and 300 mg/kg/b.w. doses of aexaf; whereas coc-eel showed 60% efficacy and 100% reversibility. the 100 and 200 mg/kg/b.w. doses of aexaf did not protectagainst conception. x. aethiopica possesses contraceptive potential worthy of further scientific consideration.