US EPA

8301519 

Journal Article 

Anticonceptive and antifertility activities of various Ruta graveolens extracts in female rats 

Al-Mahmoud, MS; Elbetieha, A; Al-Muhur, RA 

2003 

45 

3 

203-212 

English 

The anti-conceptive, anti-fertility and reproductive effects of various R. graveolens extracts were tested in Sprague-Dawley adult female rats. Intragastric administration of 800 mg/kg of aqueous 1, aqueous 2, methanol, ethanol, hexane, ether or dichloromethane extracts of the R. graveolens aerial parts from day 1 to day 6 post-coitum had no significant anti-implantation activity in rats. The ether extract administered at 800 mg/kg exhibited severe toxicity and was inactive as anti-implantation agent when administered at 400 mg/kg into the rat. Administration of aqueous1, aqueous2, ethanol or hexane preparations significantly increased the number of resorbed embryos. None of the extracts had significant effect on maternal body weight gain. However, aqueous 2, methanol, ethanol or dichloromethane extracts showed a significant reduction in fetal body weight. Placental weight was significantly reduced in female's ingested methanol, ethanol, ether or dichloromethane extracts. On the other hand, administration of hexane extract (400 mg/kg) of R. graveolens on days 6-15 post-coitum significantly decreased the number of females with born fetuses and increased the mortality rate among the borne fetuses. Prenatal exposure (days 6-15 of gestation) of male and female rat offspring to 400 mg/kg hexane extract of R. graveolens caused a significant delay on the timing of testicular descent and vaginal opening, respectively. Likewise, administration of hexane extract (400 mg/kg) of R. graveolons for 30 consecutive days had no significant effect on the occurrence of pregnancy in female rats. The results strongly suggest that R. graveolens extracts had adverse effects on female rat reproduction. 

Fertility; Rats; Reproduction; Ruta graveolens