Antifertility activity of Drosera burmannii

Abstract

The alcohol and aqueous extracts of the whole plant of Drosera burmannii Vahl (Droseraceae) were studied for antifertility activity using an anti-implantation model in female Wistar rats of normal estrus cycle, after overnight cohabitation with males of proven fertility. The day when spermatozoa were detected in the vaginal smear was treated as the first day of pregnancy. The extracts at two dose levels each were administered to female rats from day 1 to day 7 of pregnancy. On day 10, the rats were laprotomized under light ether anesthesia and the number of implantation sites and corpora lutea were noted. Both the extracts produced significant antifertility activity. After subjecting the extracts to phytochemical screening the alcohol extract showed positive tests for quinones, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols, gums, and mucilage while the aqueous extract showed presence of flavonoids, phytosterols, gums, and mucilage. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) studies revealed the presence of plumbagin in the alcohol extract.

Keywords::

• Antifertility activity
• Drosera burmannii
• anti-implantation model

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Gokula Education Foundation for providing facilities, encouragement, and financial support throughout this work.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.