Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a methanolic and
water extract of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal roots on early pregnancy of
rats. Female rats (n= 10/group) were orally administered with cither 500 or
3000 mg/kg/day of methanolic extract or 500 mg/kg/day of water extract of
root consecutively from days 1-7 of pregnancy. On day 14 of pregnancy,
animals were laparotomised under mild ether anesthesia under aseptic
conditions, and the number of implantation sites, resorption sites, viable
embryos and copora leutea were noted. Withania somnifera root extracts
showed no abortifacient and antifertility effects when administered orally
to female rats during early pregnancy. Further the extracts were well
tolerated. The result obtained from this study is in contrast to its claimed
effect as an abortifacient in traditional medicine in several countries.
