EXPLORING POST-COITAL ANTI-FERTILITY ACTIVITY WITH TOXICOLOGICAL AND HORMONAL PROFILING OF SAPINDUS TRIFOLIATUS LINN.

Abstract

Introduction: Fruits of Sapindus trifoliatus (ST) Linn., are used as traditional medicine for birth control purpose. The present study is performed to evaluate its acclaimed post-coital pregnancy interception, along with associated toxicity profiles and to assess its effects on reproductive hormones. Methodology: The traditional formulation and saponin rich butanol extract of fruits of Sapindus trifoliatus Linn. are investigated on small animals for its acute and sub-acute toxicity study, contraceptive property, estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activities, gonadal and gonadotrophic hormones and lipid-carbohydrate profiling. Results: Toxicity studies reveal non-toxic nature of the extract at bioactive dose levels. The extract at dose of 20 mg/kg body weight inhibited fetal implantation (100%), as confirmed by laparotomy on 10th day of pregnancy. The extract also exhibits antiestrogenic activity in presence of reference hormome and significant variations in gonadal and gonadotrophic hormones in serum. Conclusions: The present findings justify the use of soapnut fruits for pregnancy interception purpose, which may be due to antizygotic, blastocytotoxic or anti-implantation activity. Decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone in test animals may hinder tubal transport of blastocyst and make the uterus unreceptive for implantation. Changes in lipid and carbohydrate levels also confer Sapindus trifoliatus to be a promising anti-fertility agent with minimal risk factors