ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potency and ability of Plerocarpus santalino ides in preventing implantation processes and its abortifacient activity in pregnant rats. The acute toxicity study of the plant extract hasa narrow safety margin < 600mg/kg/day. The plant extract administered orally to the pregnant rats from day 1 of pregnancy to day 7 (1st week of pregnancy) arrested the implantation process thereby preventing the development of embryo of the fertilized zygote with evidence of 100% desorption upon laparotomy, at the highest dose of

600mg/kg/day. The extract at the lower doses; 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg/day showed a partial effect on arresting the implantation process. Also, the extract at the highest dose of 600mg/kg/day showed a more potent sub-acute abortifacient activity of the Pterocarpus santalinoides than the lower doses at, at 2nd and 3rdweek of pregnancy compared to the standard Misoprostol group. The survivability study showed that though the extract has the potency at the highest dose of 600mg/kg/day to induce delayed abortion on day 17 of pregnancy (at early 3rd week of pregnancy), but the survivability of the premature fetuses was 25% which implies that the extract has a possible toxicosis on the unborn fetuses. The effect of the plant extract on the blood profile was also investigated. The result showed that a significant reduction (P < 0.05 in the means of RBC and Hb of the pregnant rats placed at the highest dose of 600mg/kg/day (from 8.63 ± 0.10 — 6.73 ± 0.09 and 13.63 ± 0.03 — 12.06 ± 0.04 respectively) resulting in anaemia. In contrast, the extract caused a significant increased ((P < 0.05) in the means of Total White Blood Cell in all the treatment groups compared to the normal control. The serum Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Total Protein was also significantly (P < 0.05) increased at the highest dose of 600mg/kg/day while the serum Cholesterol was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in all the treatment groups compared to the normal control. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in the ALT values in the extract groups compared to the control group. In conclusion, this study confirmed the foildoric use of Pterocarpus santalinoides as an abortifacient herb and can be used to prevent implantation process, terminate unwanted pregnancies in rats though the plant has a significant adverse effect on the Red Blood Cell (RBC), Haemoglobin (Hb) and serum Cholesterol. There was no mortality and changes in the behavioral, neurological and autonomic profile of the pregnant rats in the treated groups. However, caution should be taken while eating this plant leaves by pregnant women, especially at the first and last trimesters of gestation so as to avoid early and sudden miscarriage.