Antifertility activity of different extracts of tuberous roots of Gloriosa superba Linn. in female Wistar albino rats

Gloriosa superba Linn. is used as a folk remedy for abortion. In the present study, ether, chloroform, and ethyl alcohol extracts of roots of Gloriosa superba Linn. were evaluated for the antifertility activity in female Wistar albino rats. Toxicity studies were carried out in mice. Phytochemical analysis of different extracts shows the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. All extracts were safe at a dose of 175 mg/kg body weight. The antifertility activity results show a significant reduction in number of implants (p<0.001) and number of pups born (p<0.0001) in all groups of different extracts (20mg/kg and 40mg/kg) compared to control. Ethyl alcohol (EyGS), chloroform (CEGS) and ether (ErGS) extracts of roots of Gloriosa superba Linn have shown 33.33%, 50%, 66.66% reduction in the pregnancies respectively compared to control. All the extracts have shown statistically significant (p< 0.0001) abortifacient activity compared to control.