Rising Trends towards Natural Contraception: A Review

Jaya Preethi P*, Lohita M, Swarna Latha P, Zameerullah S, Veeranjineyulu K, Manohara A

Department of Pharmacy, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, Sri Sainath Nagar, Tirupati-517102.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: jayapeesa@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Despite many achievements in human health care in the twenty first century, population in developing countries lack regular access to affordable essential drugs. For these people, modern medicine is never likely to be a realistic treatment option. In contrast medicinal plants are widely available and affordable, even in remote areas. The cost of modern medicine is increasing by modern health technology and in many cases is inappropriate to the immediate needs of people in developing countries. This review concentrates on those recent advances in science and technology that offer possible inroads for shifting the paradigm for herb-based contraception.

KEYWORDS: Antifertility, contraceptive, abortification, Fabaceae, herbs.

INTRODUCTION:

Over population is a global problem with grave implications for the future. Fertility control is an issue of global and national public health concern. There is a global need to support individuals in family planning due to the increasing growth rate of the world's population with its negative impact on environment, economic growth and poverty reduction in underdeveloped countries. About 90% of the world’s contraceptive users are women. Though considerable progress has been made in the development of highly effective, acceptable and reversible methods of contraception in females, progress and possibilities on males are still slow and limited.¹ Aware of this responsibility, health organizations and pharmaceutical companies continue to financially support or actively pursue research towards new contraceptive approaches.

Current methods of contraceptive result in an unacceptable rate of unintended pregnancies. The World Health Organization suggested that effective, locally available plants be used as substitutes for drugs.² According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about65-80% of the world’s population in developing countries depends essentially on plants for their primary healthcare due to poverty and lack of access to modern medicine. In recent years, use of ethnobotanical information in medicinal plant research has gained considerable attention in segments of the scientific community.

The use of medicinal plants and their products for regulation of fertility in India and other countries is still continuing.³

In our country as well as in the world, there are several medicinal plants associated with antifertility properties. Although very few contraceptives have been developed from plant extracts, their potentiality has not been determined accurately, and their mode of action has been beyond our knowledge until now because there are many problems in assessing plant extract including batch to batch variation and a lack of definite active portion of the extract used for the development of herbal contraceptives.^{1, 4}

Several plant products inhibit male and female fertility and may be developed into contraceptives. Even though, many indigenous plants have been shown to prevent the birth, only few plants have so far been investigated for antifertility activity. Hence the present investigation was undertaken to focus on list of antifertility herbs used to control Family planning.

Table 1 List of Plants Having Antifertility Activity5-22

S.No	Plant	Botanical name	Part used
1.	Abrus precatorius	Fabaceae	Seeds
2.	Acacia auriculaeformis	Fabaceae	--
3.	Acacia caesia	Fabaceae	Fruit
4.	Acacia concinna	Leguminosae	Stem bark
5.	Acacia leucophploea	Fabaceae	Roots
6.	Acacia nilotica	Fabaceae	Seeds
7.	Acacia seyal	Fabaceae	Leaves, root
8.	Acalypha indica	Euphorbiaceae	Whole plant
9.	Acanthus montanus	Acanthaceae	Roots
10.	Achillea millefolium	Asteraceae	Flowers
11.	Achyranthes aspera	Amaranthacea	Root
12.	Actiniopteris dichotoma	Adiantaceae	Whole plant
13.	Adhatoda vasica	Acanthaceae	Leaves
14.	Aegle marmaelos	Rutaceae	Leaves
15.	Ailanthus excella	Simaraubaceae	Leaf, stem, bark
16.	Alangium salvifolium	Alangiaceae	Stem bark
17.	Albizia procera	Fabaceae	Seed, root
18.	Albizzia lebbek	leguminosae	Pod, bark
19.	Allamanda cathartica	Apocynaceae	Leaves
20.	Allangium salvifolium	Alangiaceae	Stem
21.	Allium cepa	Lilliaceae	Bulb
22.	Allium sativum	Lilliaceae	Pod
23.	Aloe barbadensis	Lilliaceae	Leaves
24.	Alstonia scholaris	Apocynaceae	Stem bark
25.	Amaranthus spinosus	Amaranthaceae	Roots
26.	Amaranthus viridis	Amaranthaceae	Roots
27.	Anagallis arvensis	Primulaceae	Whole plant
28.	Ananas cosmosus	Bromeliaceae	Unripe fruit
29.	Andrographis paniculata	Acanthaceae	Leaves
30.	Annona senegalensis	Annonaceae	Leaves, root
31.	Annona squamosa	Annonaceae	Seed
32.	Ansellia congoensis	Orchidaceae	Leaves
33.	Arctium lappa	Asteraceae	leaves
34.	Ardisia axphylla	Orchidaceae	leaves
35.	Armeria maritima	Asteraceae	Leaves
36.	Artabotrys odoratissimus	Annonaceae	Aerial parts
37.	Asparagus adscendens	Liliaceae	Roots
38.	Asparagus africanus	Asparagaceae	Leaves, root
39.	Aspilia africana	Bignoniaceae	Leaves
40.	Austroplenckia populnea	Celasteraceae	--
41.	Azadirachta indica	Meliaceae	Seeds
42.	Bacopa monnieri	Scrophulariaceae	Whole plant
43.	Balanites roxburghii	Zygophyllaceae	Fruits
44.	Ballota undulate	Labiatae	Leaves, flower
45.	Bambusa arundinacea	Poaceae	Shoots
46.	Barleria prionitis	Acanthaceae	Root
47.	Barleria prionitis	Acanthaceae	Root
48.	Berberis chitria	Berberidaceae	Root
49.	Boerhavia diffusa	Nyctiaginaceae	Roots
50.	Bombax ceiba	Bombaceae	fruit (apocarps)
51.	Buddleja asiatica	Buddlejaceae	Roots
52.	Bursera sp.	Burseraceae	Stem, leaf
53.	Butea monosperma	Fabaceae	Seeds, Whole plant
54.	Calliandra angustifolia	Mimosaceae	Root, Bark
55.	Calotropis gigantea	Asclepiadaceae	Roots
56.	Calotropis procera	Asclepiadaceae	Root, flower
57.	Cananga odorata	Annonaceae	Root bark
58.	Cannabis sativa	Cannabaceae	Leaves
59.	Capparis aphylla	Capparaceae	Whole plant
60.	Careya arborea	Lecythidaceae	Roots
61.	Carrica papaya	Caricaceae	Fruits
62.	Carum carvi	Apiaceae	Rhizome
63.	Carum sativum	Apiaceae	Seeds
64.	Cassia fistula	Fabaceae	Seeds
65.	Cassia occidentalis	Fabaceae	Root
66.	Catharanthus roseus	Apocyanaceae	Leaves
67.	Celastrus paniculatous	Celastraceae	Seed
68.	Centella asiatica	Mackinalayaceae	Leaves
69.	Chidoseolous aconitifolius	Euphorbiaceae	Leaves
70.	Chrysanthemum parthenium	Asteraceae	Leaves
71.	Cichorium intybus	Asteraceae	Whole plant
72.	Cinnamomum camphora	Lauraceae	Seed
73.	Cissampelos pareira	Menispermaceae	Leaves
74.	Citrullus colocynthis	Cucurbitaceae	Fruit
75.	Citrus aurantifolia	Rutaceae	Leaves
76.	Citrus medica	Rutaceae	Fruit peel
77.	Clerodendrum serratum	Verbenaceae	Whole plant
78.	Cnidoscolous aconitifolius	Euphorbiaceae	Leaves
79.	Colebrookia oppositofolia	Lamiaceae	Leaves
80.	Convolvulus microphyllus	Convolvulaceae	Whole plant
81.	Correa reflexa	Cuscutaceae	Seeds
82.	Couroupita guianensis	Annonaceae	Aerial parts
83.	Crataeva nurvala	Capparidaceae	Stem bark
84.	Crotalaria juncea	Fabaceae	Seeds
85.	Crotalaria mucronata	Fabaceae	Whole plant
86.	Croton roxburghii	Euphorbiaceae	Whole plant
87.	Croton roxburghii	Euphorbiaceae	Bark
88.	Cucurbito pepo	Cucurbitaceae	Fruits
89.	Cuminum cyminum	Apiaceae	Fruit
90.	Curculigo orchioides	Amaryllidaceae	Tuberous roots
91.	Curcuma aromatica	Zigiberaceae	--
92.	Curcuma longa	Zigiberaceae	Rhizomes
93.	Cuscuta reflexa	Cuscutaceae	Leaves
94.	Cyclamen persicum	Myrsinaceae	Whole plant
95.	Cynodon dactylon	Poaceae	Roots
96.	Cytisus scoparius	Leguminosae	Leaves
97.	Daucus carota	Apiaceae	Seeds
98.	Dendrophthoe falcata	loranthaceae	Aerial parts
99.	Derris brevipes	Fabaceae	Powder root
100.	Desmodium gangeticum	Fabaceae	Whole plant
101.	Detarium microcarpum	Fabaceae	Leaves
102.	Dioscorea bulbifera	Dioscoraceae	Tubers
103.	Diploclisia echinatus	Asteraceae	Stem
104.	Dodonea viscosa	Sapindaceae	Whole plant
105.	Dysoxylum binectariferum	Meliaceae	Stem, bark
106.	Ecballium elaterium	Cucurbitaceae	--
107.	Echeveria gibbiflora	Crassulaceae	Whole plant
108.	Echinops echinatus	Asteraceae	Root
109.	Embelia ribes	Myrsinaceae	Berries
110.	Epilobium angustifolium	Onagraceae	--
111.	Eupatorium brevipes	Asteraceae	--
112.	Euphorbia neriifolia	Euphorbiaceae	Root
113.	Ficus religiosa	Moraceae	Seeds
114.	Foeniculum vulgare	Apiaceae	Whole plant
115.	Gardenia erubescens	Rubiaceae	Roots
116.	Gloriosa superba	Colchicaceae	Tuber
117.	Gossypium hertbaceum	Malvaceae	Seeds
118.	Guiera senegalensis	Combretaceae	Leaves
119.	Hedera nepalensis	Araliaceae	Inflorescence
120.	Hibiscus rosasinensis	Malvaceae	Flower
121.	Hydrocotyle javanica	Apiaceae	Whole plant
122.	Hymenocardia acida	Euphorbiaceae	Stem bark
123.	Hyptis suaveolens	Lamiaceae	Whole plant
124.	Jatropha gossypifolia	Euphorbiaceae	Leaves
125.	Juniperus phoenicea	Cupressaceae	Fruit
126.	Justica adhatoda	Acanthaceae	Roots
127.	Justicia simplex	Acanthaceae	Flower
128.	Khaya senegalensis	Meliaceae	Leaves
129.	Lawsonia inermis	Lythraceae	Leaves
130.	Lepidagathis longifolia	Verbenaceae	Roots
131.	Lepidium meyenii	Brassicaceae	Root
132.	Madhuca indica	Sapotaceae	Leaves
133.	Malvaviscus conzattii	Malvaceae	Flower
134.	Mangifera indica	Anacardiaceae	Leaves
135.	Martynia annua	Pedaliaceae	Roots
136.	Martynia annua	Marytinaceae	Root
137.	Melia azadarach	Meliaceae	Seeds
138.	Melodinus fusiformis	Apocynaceae	--
139.	Mentha arvensi	Lamiaceae	Leaves
140.	Mentha longifolia	Lamiaceae	Leaves
141.	Millettia auriculata	Leguminosae	Leaves
142.	Mimosa pudica	Mimosaceae	Root
143.	Mitragyna inermis	Rubiaceae	Leaves
144.	Momordica charantia	Cucurbitaceae	Seeds
145.	Mondia whiteii	Apocynaceae	Root bark
146.	Mucuna urens	Fabaceae	Seeds
147.	Myristica fragrans	Myristicaceae	Seeds
148.	N officinalis	Cruciferae	Whole plant
149.	Nauclea diderrichii	Rubiaceae	Leaves
150.	Nelumbo nucifera	Nelumbonaceae	Seeds
151.	Nepeta cataria	Lamiaceae	Whole plant
152.	Nerium indicum	Apocynaceae	Roots
153.	Newbouldia laevis	Bignoniaceae	leaves
154.	Nicotiana tobacum	Solanaceae	Leaves
155.	Ochna jabotapita	Ochnaceae	Plant (without root)
156.	Ocimum gratissimum	Lamiaceae	Leaves
157.	Ocimum sanctum	Lamiaceae	Leaves
158.	Ophiopogon intermedius	Asparagaceae	Rhizome
159.	Opuntia dilleni	Cactaceae	Phylloclade
160.	Papaver somniferum	papaveraceae	Capsules
161.	Phyllanthus amarus	Euphorbiaceae	Whole plant
162.	Physalis alkengi	Solanaceae	Whole plant
163.	Piper betel	pedaliaceae	Petiol
164.	Piper longum	Piperaceae	Fruits
165.	Piper nigrum	Piperaceae	Fruits
166.	Pittosporum neelgherrense	Pittosporaceae	Plant (without root)
167.	Plantago ovata	Plantaginaceae	Seeds
168.	Plumbago rosea	Plumbaginaceae	Leaves
169.	Plumbago zeylanica	Plumbaginaceae	Root, stem bark
170.	Plumeria alba	Plumbaginaceae	Leaves
171.	Plumeria rubra	Plumbaginaceae	Leaves
172.	Polemonium caeruleum	Polemoniaceae	--
173.	Polygala rosmarinifolia	Polygalaceae	Whole plant
174.	Polygonum hydropiper	Polygonaceae	Roots
175.	Polygonum hydropiper	Polygonaceae	Root, Powder
176.	Portulaca oleracea	Portulacaceae	Seed
177.	Primula vulgaris	Primulaceae	--
178.	Pterocarpus santalinus	Fabaceae	Stem bark
179.	Pueraria tuberosa	Fabaceae	Root
180.	Punica granatum	Punicaceae	Fruit
181.	Pyrus cuspidata	Rosaceae	Plant (without root)
182.	Qussia amara	Simaraubaceae	Bark
183.	Raphanus sativus	Brassicaceae	Root
184.	Ricinus communis	Euphorbiaceae	Seeds
185.	Rivea hypocrateriformis	Convolvulaceae	Whole plant
186.	Rubus ellipticus	Rosaceae	Whole plant
187.	Rumex steudelii	Polygonaceae	Roots
188.	Ruta graveolens	Rutaceae	Plant powder
189.	Salvia fruticosa	Lamiaceae	Leaves
190.	Salvia fruticosa	Labiateae	Leaves
191.	Sapindus mukorossi	Sapindaceae	Fruit pericarp
192.	Sapindus trifoliatus	Sapindaceae	Fruit
193.	Sarcostemma acidum	Asclepiadaceae	Stem
194.	Securidaca longepedunculata	Polygalaceae	Leaves
195.	Semecarpus anacardium	Anacardiaceae	Seed powder, fruit
196.	Sesbania sesban	Fabaceae	Seeds
197.	Solanum surattense	Solanaceae	Root
198.	Spondias mombin	Anacardiaceae	Leaves
199.	Stephania hernandifolia	Menispermaceae	Leaves
200.	Stevia rebaudiana	Asteraceae	Whole plant
201.	Striga orobanchioides	Scrophulariaceae	Whole plant
202.	Strychnos potatorum	Loganiaceae	Seeds
203.	Syzgium cuminii	Myrtaceae	Seed
204.	Tabernaemontana divaricata	Apocyanaceae	Flowers
205.	Tanacetum vulgare	Asteraceae	Fruits
206.	Taxus wallichiana	Taxaceae	Leaves
207.	Terminalia arjuna	Combretaceae	Bark
208.	Terminalia bellirica	Combretaceae	--
209.	Terminalia chebula	Combretaceae	Fruit
210.	Tinospora cordifolia	Menispermaceae	Stem
211.	Trachysperm ammi	Umbelliferae	Fruits
212.	Tragia involucrata	Euphorbiaceae	Aerial parts
213.	Trichosanthes cucumerina	Cucurbitaceae	Fruits
214.	Trigonella foenum gracum	Fabaceae	Seeds
215.	Tripterygium hypoglaucum	Celastraceae	Root xylem
216.	Tripterygium wilfordii	Celastraceae	Root
217.	Tylophora asthmatica	Asclepiadaceae	Leaves, stem
218.	Vernonia amygdaline	Asteraceae	Leaves
219.	Vigna ungiculata	Fabaceae	---
220.	Vitex negundo	Verbenaceae	Seed extract
221.	Waltheria indica	Malvaceae	Leaves
222.	Withania somnifera		Stem
223.	Woodfordia fruticosa	Lythraceae	Flowers
224.	Wrightia tincoria	Apocynaceae	Stem
225.	Zingiber officinale	Zingiberaceae	Roots
226.	Zizyphus jujube	Rhamnaceae	Bark
227.	Zizyphus nummularia	Rhamnaceae	Roots

CONCLUSION:

Herbs have been a source of medicine in the past centuries and today scientists and the general public recognize their value as a source of new or complimentary medicinal products. Recently, wide array of research investigations highlight the potential health beneficial principles from phytal sources. Medicinal plants constitute one of the main sources of new pharmaceuticals and health care products.

There has been an increase in demand for the phytopharmaceuticals all over the world because of the fact that the allopathic drugs have more side effects. This review makes an attempt to compile some of antifertility plants from Ayurveda as well as from foreign origin so as to give scientific account on usuage of anti- fertility plants.

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Received on 04.09.2014 Accepted on 26.09.2014

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Asian J. Res. Pharm. Sci. 4(3): July-Sept. 2014; Page 129-133