Estrogenic and Embryo-Fetotoxic Effects of Ethanol Extract of Linum usitatissimum in Rats

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate estrogenic and progestogenic activity of ethanol extract of Linum usitatissimum (LU-EE) in immature rats and its resultant effect on pregnancy in adult rats. Estrogenic activity was carried out by vaginal cornification, vaginal opening and by rodent uterotrophic assay. Effect of LU-EE on pregnancy in rats was studied on female Wistar rats by oral administration of LU-EE to pregnant female rats from day 1-7 of pregnancy. Further progesterogenic activity was studied by histamine-induced deciduoma formation. Blood hormones were estimated for further confirmation. LU-EE (500, 1000 mg/kg) caused a significantly (P<0.001) increase in uterine weight in immature rats. LU-EE (500, 1000 mg/kg) produced cornification of epithelium suggesting estrogenic activity. Oral administration of LU-EE to pregnant female rats from day 1-7 of pregnancy at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight resulted in complete termination of pregnancy. Estimation of estrogen in blood showed significant increase in estrogen level in LU-EE (1000 mg/kg) treated rats (P <0.001). It can be concluded that LU-EE possesses estrogenic activity and the estrogenic activity of LU-EE appears to be responsible for fetocidal effect.