Antifertility effects of <i>Pouzolzia Mixta</i> in female wistar rats

Abstract

The continued use of plants by women to prevent pregnancy suggests there are plants out there with potential use as contraceptives. In Zimbabwe, Pouzolzia mixta is used as a "morning after" contraceptive, thus it may possess postcoital antifertility activity. To test contraceptive activity, animals (n=8/group) were orally pretreated with aqueous (AqPM) or ethanolic (EtPM) extract of P. mixta at 300mg/kg b.wt for 7 days followed by mating with continued treatment for 10 days post-conception. To test for postcoital activity, treatment was initiated on day-1 of pregnancy and continued for 10 days. Laparotomy was performed and implantations counted. For estrogenic activity, immature ovariectomised rats were treated for 7 days after which vaginal opening and uterine weights were determined. In vitro oxytocic effects were performed using uterine tissue in an organ bath with De Jalon's solution. Acetylcholine (Ach) was the positive control. Results showed modest contraceptive activity with EtPM more effective in inhibiting fertility compared to AqPM (37.5% vs 25%) with a similar trend for antiimplantation effects (31% vs 19%). There was potent postcoital antifertility effects with AqPM more effective in inhibiting implantation (94.6% vs 86%) and fertility (87.5% vs 75%) compared to EtPM. Immature rat bioassay for estrogenic activity demonstrated pronounced estrogenic activity by both extracts. Oxytocic effects at 400ng/ml were more pronounced for the AqPM (92% of 100ng/ml Ach) than EtPM (25% of 100ng/ml Ach). Findings demonstrate the antifertility effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. mixta. The antifertility effects may be attributed to antiimplantation, estrogenic and oxytocic effects of the plant extracts.

Phytochemical Profile, Safety and Efficacy of a Herbal Mixture Used for Contraception by Traditional Health Practitioners in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, South Africa

“…Several South African medicinal plants have been investigated for their contraceptive efficacy using both in vitro and in vivo test systems [7]. For example, the contraceptive efficacy of 300 mg/kg aqueous extracts of Pouzolzia mixta was investigated using three groups and eight animals per group [16]. Only two animals did not fall pregnant, a finding that is relatively similar to our result.…”

“…The animals were observed daily for 21 days and were all euthanized after the study. A formula for contraceptive efficacy was adapted from the study by Sewani-Rusike [16], as highlighted below:…”

“…In South Africa, medicinal plants used for contraception showed that herbal contraceptives are usually administered orally as single species or as herbal mixtures [7,15,16]. Based on indigenous knowledge among different ethnic groups, the use of herbal mixtures or concoctions is often geared at enhancing the effectiveness and safety of the herbal product [17,18].…”

The role of patriarchy and its influences on domestic violence against females and children in Africa: An indigenous perspective

“…Evidently, some South African females drink an ash tincture mixed with hot water after sexual intercourse to prevent falling pregnant (Mothiba et al 2012). Zimbabwean females ingest herbs from the shrub Pouzolzia mixta the following morning to prevent pregnancy (Maroyi 2013;Sewani-Rusike 2013). It is believed that Pouzolzia mixta, also known as a soap brush (English), isikhukhukhu (Ndebele) or munanzva (Shona).…”

Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) pod extract decreases fertility in female but not male rats

“…The methanolic extract of Artemisa vulgaris leaves which is a plant containing flavonoids, possesses estrogenic activity at doses 300 or 600 mg/kg when administered orally from day 1 to 10 of pregnancy causes major implantation failure (100%) in female rats (Shaik et al, 2004). Similarly, the aqueous extract of Pouzolzia mixta (a plant native of Africa and used by women as a post-coital contraceptive) administered orally to female rats at a dose of 300 mg/kg for 7 days followed by mating and given an additional treatment for 10 days postconception, inhibits both implantation and fertility (Sewani-Rusike, 2013). Flower extracts of Tabernaemontana divaricata, a plant native of Asia, which also contains flavonoids, is used by women as a traditional medicine for family planning.…”