ABSTRACT

Bioactive principles from the hyroalcoholic (50%) extract of Musa paradisiaca L. stem were isolated and characterized to evaluate antifertility activity in female albino rats. Oral acute toxicity study was done with crude extract for 24h. The hydro alcoholic extract of M. paradisiaca stem was subjected to silica gel column chromatography using gradient solvent system DCM: Eth, Mth: Eth and Mth., ten different fraction were collected. The yield of fraction Mu-HA- Mps was 580 mg, further fractionated for purification by using solvent DCM-MeOH (3:2) to yield compound Mu-HA-Mps (20.22 %w/w). Isolated compound Mu-HA-Mps was subjected to evaluation of its antifertility potential by antiovulatory and estrogenic activity. The isolated compound Mu-HA-Mps was found to exhibit significant antiovulatory and antiestrogenic activity at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Isolated compound Mu-HAMps was subjected to structure elucidation by UV, IR, NMR and MASS spectral analytical methods. The results of the present study provide evidence of anti-fertility activity of isolated compound Mu-HA-Mps as claimed in the traditional use. The hydroalcoholic extract of Musa paradisiaca L. furnished a compound whose structure was established as 4’-methoxy-7-hydroxyisoflavone on the basis of physical and spectral basis and could be a good source of drug for birth control.