Preliminary Phytochemical and Antifertility Studies on Dodonea viscosa Linn

The practice of traditional medicine for the control of fertility in most parts of Ethiopia is based on the uses of plant medicines for many years. The fact that the herbal medicines have been employed for such a long time does not guarantee their efficacy and safety. The aim of the present study was therefore to carry out phytochemical screening, efficacy and safety studies on one of the traditionally used anti- fertility plants: Dodonea viscose Linn. The secondary metabolites of the leaves of this plant were determined. The methanolic extract of the leaves of this plant were investigated for their anti-fertility activity in female rats. The identification of the secondary metabolites showed that the leaves of the plant contained alkaloids, phytosterols and polyphenols. It was found that the extract reduced significantly (p< 0.01) the number of liters and administered through oral route. It also produced ant fertility effect in a dose dependent manner and the contraceptive effect was manifested for a definite period of time. Furthermore, the extract prolonged significantly the anti-implantation and early abortifacient activity. All these observations suggest that the extract has antifertility activity and is safe at the effective anti-fertility doses employed in this study.