pharmacological evaluation of sida cordifolia root extract: a natural contraceptive agent with dual estrogenic/anti-estrogenic properties

This study investigates the effect of a methanol extract derived from sida cordifolia rhizomes on reproductive function and gestation processes in laboratory animal models. key parameters evaluated included the acute toxicity of the extract, its postcoital antifertility effects, and its estrogenic/antiestrogenic properties. particular emphasis was placed on assessing the effect of the extract on offspring in pregnant rats exposed to sida cordifolia root methanol extract. analysis of litter weight revealed significant dose-dependent reductions: at 200 mg/kg, mean litter weight was 42.13 ± 0.77 g, while at 400 mg/kg, it decreased to 18.53 ± 0.94 g, both markedly lower than the control group (61.5 ± 0.29 g). in immature ovariectomized rats, oral administration of sida cordifolia extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg induced a statistically significant increase in uterine weight (p < 0.01). although the uterotrophic effect of the extract was less pronounced than that of ethinyl estradiol, its contraceptive dosage elicited a stronger uterotrophic response compared to untreated controls.