Studies on the post-coital contraceptive mechanisms of crude extract of Sri Lankan marine red algae, Gelidiella acerosa

This study investigates the potential post-coital contraceptive mechanisms of the crude extract of Sri Lankan marine red algae, Gelidiella acerosa, using rats. The dose used was 1000 mg/kg/day and the route of administration was oral. The results showed that the crude extract possessed potent post-c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Contraception (Stoneham) 1995-09, Vol.52 (3), p.203-207
Main Authors: Premakumara, G.A.S., Ratnasooriya, W.D., Tillekeratne, L.M.V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Contraceptives, Postcoital - administration & dosage
Embryonic Development
Estrogen Antagonists
Female
fetal death
Fetal Resorption - chemically induced
Gelidiella acerosa
General pharmacology
Hormone Antagonists
Male
Medical sciences
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
post-coital contraception
Pregnancy
Progesterone - antagonists & inhibitors
rat
Rats
red algae
Rhodophyta - chemistry
Time Factors
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Summary:This study investigates the potential post-coital contraceptive mechanisms of the crude extract of Sri Lankan marine red algae, Gelidiella acerosa, using rats. The dose used was 1000 mg/kg/day and the route of administration was oral. The results showed that the crude extract possessed potent post-coital contraceptive activity when administered on days 7–8 of pregnancy indicating the presence of a narrow window in its action. The post-coital contraceptive activity was due to an elevated post-implantation loss (by 89%) resulting from fetal death between days 9–14 of pregnancy. The extract was neither estrogenic nor anti-estrogenic nor stressor but appeared to be anti-progestational (reduced ovarian progesterone output). It is suggested that the crude extract may reduce the ovarian progesterone release possibly via anti-platelet and PGE 2-depressing activity.
ISSN:0010-7824
1879-0518
DOI:10.1016/0010-7824(95)00150-9