ESTROGENIC AND PREGNANCY INTERCEPTORY EFFICACY OF A FLAVONOID MIXTURE FROM GRANGEA-MADERASPATANA POIR (ARTEMISIA-MADERASPATANA) IN THE MOUSE

A mixture of flavonoids extracted from the plant Grangea maderaspatana possessed oestrogenicity and antiimplantational activities in the mouse. In the 3 day uterotrophic bioassay, administration of the drug at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight per day, intramuscularly to ovariectomized females. resulted in a highly significant (p<0.001) increase in the wet uterine and vaginal weights. However. in comparison with conjugated oestrogen, the extract proved to be mildly oestrogenic. Flavonoids, if administered orally at the same dose level effectively interfere with all stages of pregnancy. Maximum interceptory efficacy was recorded when the drug was administered from days 4-6 post coitum. However, there was a reduction in antinidational activity only if the drug was administered from days 1-3 and 7-9 post coitum.