Preliminary observations in the rabbit on the anti-ovulatory activity present in Taxus baccata linn. leaves.

Abstract

Possible antiovulatory activity of different extracts of leaves of Taxus baccata was tested on 58 adult non-pregnant rabbits. The rabbits were housed in independent cages for at least 3 weeks before use. The air-dried powdered leaves of T. baccata were extracted with petroleum ether (b.p. 60 to 80 degrees C) alcohol (95%) and distilled water. The extracts were administered as a suspension with gum acacia by a soft rubber catheter at different intervals before induction of ovulation. Ovulation was induced by injecting copper acetate iv (4 mg/kg). To assess ovulation laparotomies were carried out on the rabbit 48 hours after the copper acetate injection and the bleeding points on each ovary were noted. When administered at a dose of 200mg/kg for 2 days the petroleum ether and alcoholic extracts of the leaves of T. baccata did not prevent ovulation to any marked degree. When the aqueous extract of the leaves was administered at a dose of 400 mg/kg for 2 days maximal antiovulatory activity was detected (100%). There was no antiovulatory activity when the same dose of aqueous extract was administered for only 1 day. Activity was also detected when doses of 200 and 250 mg/kg were administered for 2-3 days before induction of ovulation. When the average numbers of bleeding points (ovulation points) in the different groups of animals were compared it appeared that there were fewer in rabbits when T. baccata had been administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg for 3 days (1) 250 mg/kg for 2 days (1.6) and 400 mg/kg for 1 day (1.8). However bleeding points were present after administration of copper acetate in these animals while there were no bleeding points seen in 10 rabbits when T. baccata had been administered at a dose of 400 mg/kg for 2 days. The results indicated that the aqueous extract of Taxus baccata possesses antiovulatory activity.