Effects of Some Natural Products on Fertility in Mice

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Abstract
Crude extracts of 112 natural products used in Chinese and Hawaiian medicine were screened for an antifertility effect in the female mouse. Twenty-four agents produced a decrease in fertility when administered subcutaneously twice a day for 5 days in presence of a male for the last 3 1/2 days and 4 of these were also effective when given after insemination. None of the agents caused interruption of the estrus cycle. Copulatory activity was reduced by 9 agents, but this did not coincide with anestrus. In many instances, only half of the impregnated mice had litters. A considerable loss of body weigth was observed with 8 agents. The mechanisms of effect remain to be determined. Toxicity appeared to play a major role for some agents. Where there was no overt toxicity, an effect on implantation or tubal transport of eggs is suggested.

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