Antifertility effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Asparagus africanus in rats.

BACKGROUND Asparagus africanus is claimed to have use in reproductive related health problems in some areas of Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE To study the potential antifertility effect of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Asparagus africanus in rats. METHODS Water and ethanol extracts were given by gavages to rats in the in vivo test at a dose of 300 mg/kg of body weight, and rat uterine tissue were used for the in vitro test at different concentrations. RESULTS The aqueous extracts of the leaves and the roots showed an anti-implantation activity of 70% and 77%, respectively, while the ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots showed 48% and 61%, respectively. The antifertility activities of the aqueous and ethanol extracts were 40% (for leaves), 60% (for roots) and 20% (for leaves), 40% (for roots), respectively. All the extracts have resulted in significant (P< 0.05) reduction in the number of implants as compared with their respective controls. Each extract potentiated acetylcholine induced uterine contractions in a concentration dependent manner significantly (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION The results obtained in this study suggest that the leaves and roots of this plant may possess hormonal properties that can modulate the reproductive function of the experimental rats.