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

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants for contraception remains a common practice among South African ethnic groups. The present study assessed the phytochemical profile, cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity and efficacy of a herbal mixture used for contraception by the Batswana of South Africa. An aqueous extract was prepared from equal quantities (in terms of weight) of Bulbine frutescens (roots), Helichrysum caespititium (leaves) and Teucrium trifidum (leaves) based on a recipe used by traditional health practitioners. The phytochemical profiles of the freeze-dried herbal mixture were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, cytotoxicity was determined using an MTT assay on Vero cells and in vivo contraceptive efficacy was evaluated using seven Sprague Dawley rats per control and treatment groups. The control group received distilled water while test groups received 5, 50 and 300 mg/kg of the herbal mixture, which was administered orally once a day for three consecutive days. Subsequently, female rats were paired 1:1 with males for 3 days. Their weights were measured weekly and incidence of pregnancy was recorded. The GC-MS chromatogram revealed the presence of 12 identified and 9 unidentified compounds. In terms of safety, the herbal mixture had an IC50 value of 755.2 μg/mL and 2000 mg/kg, which was the highest tested dose that caused no mortality or morbidity in the rats. A contraceptive efficacy of 14.5% was exerted with 50 mg/kg herbal mixture extract while other doses had no effects given that all the rats were pregnant. Based on a chi-square test (p < 0.05), there was no correlation between the tested herbal mixture doses and contraception, nor on the weight of the rats. Overall, the herbal mixture extract was found to be safe but had limited contraceptive efficacy at the tested doses. In future studies, exploring increased dose range, solvent extract types and hormonal analysis will be pertinent.

Effects of Hydro-ethanolic Leaf Extract of Sida acuta on Female Albino Rats’ Reproductive Potential and Weight: An Interventional Study

“…In the same vein, [22], who established Azadirachta indica as an effective contraceptive agent, also identified high concentrations of flavonoids and alkaloids in the plant, a clear indication that these phytochemicals may be responsible for the contraceptive efficacy of the tested extract. Furthermore, findings in this study are supported by that of [23] who observed that phenolic compounds are potent contraceptive agents.…”

“…As supported by the work of [23] who observed no significant weight loss in animals treated with herbal contraceptives, this study showed nonsignificant (p>0.05) alterations in the body weight of rats in groups 2, 3 and 4, when measured before and after the administrations, indicating that the extract had no significant effect on the body mass of the rats administered with a low dose. However, there is a significant decrease in weight of test group 5, which conforms to the findings of [42], who observed a significant decrease in body weights of albino rats administered with Sida acuta extract.…”

Testaments of Female Natural Contraceptives: An Update on the Usage of African Herbal Remedies

“…2,9 Herbal contraceptive techniques have been utilized for centuries across various cultures and traditions, and they present numerous advantages over synthetic hormones, intrauterine devices, or surgical interventions. 10 The utilization of this approach is deemed to be less hazardous and milder towards the physiological system, as it refrains from disrupting the inherent hormonal equilibrium or inflicting harm to the reproductive structures as is the case of sterilization. 5 The utilization of this approach is deemed to be less hazardous and milder towards the physiological system, as it refrains from disrupting the inherent hormonal equilibrium or inflicting harm to the reproductive structures as is the case of sterilization.…”