Effect of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Andrographis paniculata</i> Wall. ex Nees root extract fractions on estrogen, FSH, LH, progestrone and ovary of female albino rats,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Rattus norvegicus</i>

Abstract

The fractions (F) 3 and 4 derived from the root extract of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Andrographis paniculata </i>Wall. ex Nees were used in the present investigation to study the contraceptive action of the plant<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b>on albino rats. Rats were treated with 500 mg/kg body weight/day of fraction 3 and 4 of the extract for a period of 48 days. The total body and ovary weight, levels of hormones, such as estrogen, LH, FSH and progesterone, histological changes in the ovary and uterus were observed. There was no remarkable change in total body weight of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A. paniculata</i> treated rats, whereas the size of the ovary was reduced in treated rats as compared to control. The levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone were found to be raised in treated groups when compared with control and there were remarkable changes noted in the histology of ovary and uterus of experimental rats. The obtained results suggest that the presence of active principle in the fractions 3 and 4 of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A. paniculata </i>might be responsible for the contraceptive efficacy of the plant extract. These alterations are possibly due to the interference of secondary metabolites of the plant on the physiology of the sexual cycle of female rats.