Abstract
<i>Thevetia peruviana</i> (Pers.) K. Schum (Apocynacae) leaves have a reputation of abortifacient activity. We investigated traditional claim and found that methanolic leaf extract produce antifertility activity by lowering the progesterone level in rat model. Aim of the present study was to find out the chemical constituent (s) responsible for antifertility activity of methanolic leaf extract of <i>Thevetia peruviana</i> (Pers.). The ethyl acetate, chloroform and toluene fractions of methanolic extract of <i>T. peruviana</i> leaves freed from cardiac glycosides [TPL-Me-G] were selected for phytochemical investigation and <i>in-vitro</i> uterotonic activity. The methanolic extract of <i>T. peruviana</i> leaves (1.103g) was fractionated with toluene (100ml, n=20); chloroform (100ml, n=20); and ethyl acetate (100ml, n=20) in the successive order. These fractions were examined for phytoconstituents and evaluated for <i>in-vitro</i> uterotonic activity. The toluene fraction (TPL-T) was found to have triterpenes, flavonoids and phytosterols. Quercetin (0.8904%) is present in TPL-T. The chloroform fraction (TPL-Ch) was found to contain flavonoids, triterpenes and phytosterols. Presence of alkaloids and flavonoids (quercetin 0.1606%) were observed in ethyl acetate fraction (TPL-Et-Ac). In contrast to TPL-Et-Ac, the TPL-T and TPL-Ch induced dose dependent uterine contraction in the isolated estrogenized rat uterus model. Highest uterotonic activity was found with TPL-Me-G which has kaempferol as phyto-constituent additionally. The <i>in-vitro</i> uterotonic activity is not influenced by quercetin and primary contributor is kaempferol though some unknown phytoconstituent/s also contributes to uterotonic activity and synergizes the action of kaempferol too. So, further research is needed to identify other contributory unknown phytoconstituent/s for antifertility activity of methanolic leaf extract of <i>Thevetia peruviana</i> (Pers.).
Highlights
To meet the ever increasing need of safe and economic antifertility agents, plants with ethno-pharmacological or ethno-botanical reputation are focused [1], Exhaustive literature survey revealed that Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K
We have found that cardiac glycoside free methanolic extract of T. peruviana leaves (Quercetin 0.0326% and Kaempferol 0.138%) exhibited significant (p
TPL-T and TPL-Ch has shown the presence of phytosterols, flavonoids and alkaloids respectively, where as ethyl acetate fraction has shown the presence of only flavonoids
Summary
To meet the ever increasing need of safe and economic antifertility agents, plants with ethno-pharmacological or ethno-botanical reputation are focused [1], Exhaustive literature survey revealed that Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum (Apocyanaceae) is one of the 577 plants used traditionally for regulation of female fertility [2]. Different parts of T. peruviana plant (fruits, leaves, seeds) have been found to possess cardiac glycosides such as thevetin A, thevetin B, neriifolin, peruvoside, thevetoxin and ruvoside etc [5] Researches on T. peruviana proved that it exhibits several pharmacological effect in life threatening diseases like cancer, AIDS as well as some common patho-physiological conditions like inflammation, pain, microbial and fungal infections. Jhuma Samanta et al.: Evaluation of Ethyl Acetate, Evaluation of Ethyl Acetate, Chloroform and Toluene Fractions of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum Methanolic Leaf Extract for Uterotonic Activity
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