Author:
E. O. Wango Department of Animal Physiology, Reproductive Biology Unit, University of Nairobi P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya

Search for other papers by E. O. Wango in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Effects of embelin on oestrous cycle, plasma levels of progesterone and oestradiol, and in vitro production of oestradiol and progesterone by mixed ovarian cells was studied. Forty adult (4 months old) regularly cycling female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats each. Groups I and II (controls) were given 1 ml/kg body weight of physiological saline or corn oil (vehicle). Groups III and IV received 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg body weight embelin in corn oil, respectively. Emberlin disrupted the oestrous cycles in Groups III and IV animals, and there was a significant depression in plasma oestradiol (p<0.05) and progesterone (p<0.02) at both 10 and 20 mg/kg body weights, respectively. Isolated mixed ovarian cells from embelin treated rats produced significantly less progesterone and estradiol than controls in vitro. It is concluded that embelin probably interferes with reproductive functions in female rats by suppressing ovarian production of sex steroid hormones.

  • Stoifer, R. L., Coesgen, J. I., Dizerega, G. S. (1981) Induction of defective corpus luteum function by administration of follicular fluid during the menstrual phase. Raven Press, New York, pp. 185-206.

    Induction of defective corpus luteum function by administration of follicular fluid during the menstrual phase , () 185 -206 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Sufi, S. B., Donaldson, A., Jeffcoate, S. L. (1993) WHO Matched Reagent Programme Method Manual. 17ed.

  • Zuckerman, S., Parkes, A. S. (1976) Morphological and functional homologies of the male and female reproductive systems

  • Bogh, H. O., Andreasen, J., Lemmich, J. (1996) Anti-helminthic usage of extracts of embelin from Tanzania. J. Ethnopharmacology 50, 35-42.

    'Anti-helminthic usage of extracts of embelin from Tanzania ' () 50 J. Ethnopharmacology : 35 -42 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Oduma, J. A., Wango, E. O., Oduor-Okelo, D., Makawiti, D. W. (1995) In vivo and in vitro effects of graded doses of the pesticide heptachlor on female sex steroid hormone production in rats. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 2, 191-196.

    'In vivo and in vitro effects of graded doses of the pesticide heptachlor on female sex steroid hormone production in rats ' () 2 Comp. Biochem. Physiol : 191 -196 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Prakash, A. O. (1981) Anti-fertility investigations on embelin. Planta Medica 41, 259-266.

    'Anti-fertility investigations on embelin ' () 41 Planta Medica : 259 -266 .

  • Prakash, A. O., Varshney, M. D. (1980) Effect of embelin, an anti-fertility agent of plant origin, on corpora lutea of suckling guinea pigs. J. Sci. Res. Plant Med. 1, 32-35.

    'Effect of embelin, an anti-fertility agent of plant origin, on corpora lutea of suckling guinea pigs ' () 1 J. Sci. Res. Plant Med : 32 -35 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Githiu, E. K., Makawiti, D. W., Midiwo, J. O. (1991) Changes in the concentration of testosterone, luteinising hormone and progesterone associated with the administration of embelin. Contraception 44, 311-317.

    'Changes in the concentration of testosterone, luteinising hormone and progesterone associated with the administration of embelin ' () 44 Contraception : 311 -317 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Gupta, S., Sample, S. N., Kammar, U. (1990) Changes in glucose/amino acid/calcium uptake and brush border membrane-associated enzymes in rat small intestines after the administration of embelin. J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. (Tokyo) 36, 53-164.

    'Changes in glucose/amino acid/calcium uptake and brush border membrane-associated enzymes in rat small intestines after the administration of embelin ' () 36 J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. (Tokyo) : 53 -164 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Gupta, S., Sample, S. N., Kammar, U. (1991) Effects of embelin, a male antifertility agent, on absorptive and digestive functions of rat intestines. J. Ethnopharmacol. 33, 203-212.

    'Effects of embelin, a male antifertility agent, on absorptive and digestive functions of rat intestines ' () 33 J. Ethnopharmacol : 203 -212 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Johri, R. K., Dhar, S. K., Puhma, S. G., Sharma, S. C., Kaul, J. L., Zutshi, U. (1990) Toxicity studies with potassium embelate, a new analgesic compound. Indian J. Exper. Biol. 28, 213-217.

    'Toxicity studies with potassium embelate, a new analgesic compound ' () 28 Indian J. Exper. Biol : 213 -217 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Kokwaro, J. O. (1993) Medicinal plants of East Africa. Second Edition. Kenya Literature Bureau, Nairobi, Kenya.

    Medicinal plants of East Africa , ().

  • Low, G., Rogers, L. G., Brunley, S. P. (1985) Visual deficits and retino-toxicity caused by naturally occurring anti-helmintics, embelia ribes and Hegenia abyssinica. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 81, 220-230.

    'Visual deficits and retino-toxicity caused by naturally occurring anti-helmintics, embelia ribes and Hegenia abyssinica ' () 81 Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol : 220 -230 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Midiwo, J. O., Arot, L. M., Mbakaya, C. L. (1988) Distribution of benzoquinone pigments in Kenyan Myrcinaceae. Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiophia 2, 83-85.

    'Distribution of benzoquinone pigments in Kenyan Myrcinaceae ' () 2 Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiophia : 83 -85 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Mungai, N. N., Makawiti, D. W., Konji, N. V. (1997) Effects of different doses and routes of administration of embelin on plasma testosterone levels. Phytotherapy Research 11, 532-534.

    'Effects of different doses and routes of administration of embelin on plasma testosterone levels ' () 11 Phytotherapy Research : 532 -534 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Andersen, J. M., Dietschy, J. M. (1978) Relative importance of high and low density lipoproteins in the regulation of cholestrol synthesis in the adrenal gland, ovary, and testis of the rat. J. Biol. Chem. 253, 9024-9030.

    'Relative importance of high and low density lipoproteins in the regulation of cholestrol synthesis in the adrenal gland, ovary, and testis of the rat ' () 253 J. Biol. Chem : 9024 -9030 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Bargava, S. R., Dixit, V. P. (1985) Anti-fertility effects of embelin and plumbagin in female rats. Plant Med. 19, 29-34.

    'Anti-fertility effects of embelin and plumbagin in female rats ' () 19 Plant Med : 29 -34 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Collapse
  • Expand

Editorial Board

    1. Csányi, Vilmos (Göd)
    1. Dudits, Dénes (Szeged)
    1. Falus, András (Budapest)
    1. Fischer, Ernő (Pécs)
    1. Gábriel, Róbert (Pécs)
    1. Gulya, Károly (Szeged)
    1. Gulyás, Balázs (Stockholm)
    1. Hajós, Ferenc (Budapest)
    1. Hámori, József (Budapest)
    1. Heszky, László (Gödöllő)
    1. Hideg, Éva (Szeged)
    1. E. Ito (Sanuki)
    1. Janda, Tibor (Martonvásár)
    1. Kavanaugh, Michael P. (Missoula)
    1. Kása, Péter (Szeged)
    1. Klein, Éva (Stockholm)
    1. Kovács, János (Budapest)
    1. Brigitte Mauch-Mani (Neuchâtel)
    1. Nässel, Dick R. (Stockholm)
    1. Nemcsók, János (Szeged)
    1. Péczely, Péter (Gödöllő)
    1. Roberts, D. F. (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
    1. Sakharov, Dimitri A. (Moscow)
    1. Singh, Meharvan (Fort Worth)
    1. Sipiczky, Mátyás (Debrecen)
    1. Szeberényi, József (Pécs)
    1. Székely, György (Debrecen)
    1. Tari, Irma (Szeged)
    1. Vágvölgyi, Csaba (Szeged),
    1. L. Zaborszky (Newark)

 

Acta Biologica Hungarica
P.O. Box 35
H-8237 Tihany, Hungary
Phone: (36 87) 448 244 ext. 103
Fax: (36 87) 448 006
E-mail: elekes@tres.blki.hu

Indexing and Abstracting Services:

  • Biological Abstracts
  • BIOSIS Previews
  • CAB Abstracts
  • Chemical Abstracts
  • Current Contents: Agriculture
  • Biology and Environmental Sciences
  • Elsevier BIOBASE
  • Global Health
  • Index Medicus
  • Index Veterinarius
  • Medline
  • Referativnyi Zhurnal
  • Science Citation Index
  • Science Citation Index Expanded (SciSearch)
  • SCOPUS
  • The ISI Alerting Services
  • Zoological Abstracts

 

Acta Biologica Hungarica
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation
1950
Publication
Programme
changed title
Volumes
per Year
 
Issues
per Year
 
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's
Address
H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher
Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0236-5383 (Print)
ISSN 1588-256X (Online)