Ethanomedical Approach for Studying Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants for Antifertility Activity

Aim: Ethnomedical approach for studying traditionally used medicinal plants for antifertility activity.

Methods: A comprehensive bibliographic database and abstracting systems such as indexed journals, textbooks and peer reviewed papers. Embase and PubMed searches using different terminologies such as “antifertility'', anti - implantation', “antiovulation'', “antispermatogenic'' activity of plants.

Result: Antifertility agents or contraceptive agents are the drugs which prevent fertilization. The methodology of preventing normal process of ovulation by effecting menstrual cycle, fertilization and ovulation is known as contraception. The antifertility substances seem to be active in females by preventing fertilization and in case of males, prevention of spermatogenesis by inhibiting testosterone or affects the gonadotropin of organs or mortality of sperms. Numerous plants have phytoestrogens as novel agents which have noxious effects by disturbing normal gestation process and lead to impaired fertility in domestic animals. The large number of medicinal plants (such as Abroma angusta, Abrus precatorius, Plumago indica, Plumago zeylanica and Plumago rosea), including their parts and extracts, have shown antifertility action. These medicinal plants appear to follow an antizygotic mechanism, antifertility activity, anti-implantation activities.

Conclusions: Current scenario of ethnobotanical usage of herbs has led to the development and studies of numerous herbal remedies employed for antifertility action. A well-defined time-bound approach involving a team of botanist, phytochemist and biologists is required to ascertain the bioactivity of other compounds in crude extracts and to exploit their activity as antifertility agents. So need of the hour is to develop new and efficacious drugs by investigating bioactivity of various compounds.