Antifertility Effect And Hormonal Profile of Petroleum Ether Extract of Seeds of Cassia fistula in Female Rats

Petroleum ether extract of seeds of Cassia fistula was screened for the antifertility activity in proven fertile female albino rats at the doses 100, 200 and 500mg/kg b.wt./day. Oral administration of the extract to mated female rats on days 1-5 of pregnancy resulted in a decline in the fertility index, numbers of uterine implants and live fetuses in a dose dependent manner as was confirmed by laparotomy on day 15 of pregnancy. The extract (100mg/kg b.wt.) exhibited weak estrogenic activity when given alone and tested in immature bilaterally ovariectomized female albino rats, but exhibited slight antiestrogenic activity when administration along with estradiol valerate (0.1mg/kg b.wt.). Blood sugar and haematological parameters were within normal range. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that the petroleum ether extract of Cassia fistula seeds possesses pregnancy terminating effect by virtue of anti-implantation activity.