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Abstract
Petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform and alcohol extracts of the seeds of Momordica charantia were administered orally to adult, female albino rats at a dose level of 25mg/100g body weight for 30 days. The estrous cycle of these rats was irregular with prolonged estrus and metaestrus phases, and reduced diestrus and proestrus phases during the experimental period. At autopsy on day 31, ovarian weight was reduced, showing a decreased number of developing follicles, Graafian follicles and corpora lutea, and an increased number of atretic follicles in histological sections. The total cholesterol content of the ovary was increased and protein and glycogen were decreased. The weight of the uterus and its micrometric measurements in all experimental rats were increased significantly. However, the benzene extract of M. charantia seeds was more effective in causing these changes comparing to other extracts. Based on these results, the antiovulatory and estrogenic properties of M. charantia seed extracts are discussed.