Re-Printed , from- "Proceedings of the XVIth All Indict Obstetrics and Gynaecological Congress", pp, 143-145

THE EFFECT OF ALOES INDICA ON THE FERTILITY OF FEMALE RABBITS

BY S.C. SHARIVIA B. CHADHA AND M. N. BURJORJEIE

THE EFFECT OF ALOES INDICA ON THE FERTILITY OF FEMALE RABBITS

by

S. C. SHARMA,^* H. CHADHA and M. N. BURJORJEF,

Since the dawn of history a number of species of Aloes plant have been put to varying uses. Gjerstad and Riner (1968) have described the uses of Aloes as a curative, cosmetic and a bitter appetizer. They have cited evidence where A. vera species of Aloes has been used in ringworm, eczema, arthritis, ventricular and gastric ulcers, peptooesophagitis, alopacia, tuberculosis, venereal diseases and in beauty creams, Goodman and Gillman (1965) have described Aloes as the most irritant of the anthraquinone cathartics with a property to cause pelvic congestion. Because of its latter property Aloes has been employed in varying types of amenorrhoea including that of pregnancy. However, very little is known about the efficiency of Aloes as an abortifacient. Although many species of Aloes are known yet the superiority of one species over the other has hardly been investigated. The presvent study was carried out to investigate the possible use of Aloes as an anti-inf ertility agent. Aloes 'indica species of Aloes was selected as a drug.

*Department of PharmacologV, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana (Pb.).

*Present address: Department of Clinical Studies, Leahurst field Station, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral_., Engla7td (U.K.).

Material and Methods

Female rabbits of known fertility were used throughout this study. The animals were divided into seven groups of six rabbits each. They were caged separately* and were given a rest of threc. weeks after weaning. Each female was exposed to two fertile bucks and the mating was confirmed from the characteristic fall of the male and alsc by the examination of vaginal smears. Group A was kept as control and received equal volumes of fluid and dispersing material. Groups B to D received 30, 60 and 120 mg/Kg body wt. of Aloes indica powder while groups E, F and G received an equal amount of Aloes indica in the form of Aloes compound tablets (Alarsin: Aloes indica-60 mg, Myrrh-60 mg, Manjista-SO mg, Loha Bhasma-30 mg, and Hurmal-30 ^-mg. per tablet). The doses^, of Aloes compound tablets were calculated on the basis of Aloes ;ndica present in each tablet. Aloes compound tablets or Aloes indica powder were dissolved in tap water at body temperature and Gum accacia was used as a dispersant. A total volume of 30 ml was given in each case orally through an intragastric rubber tube. The treatment was started three days before and continued for five days after mating. This

TABLE 1
Showing the number o f young ones born to each female rabbit and a1so the incidence of side effects

Group No.	Animal No,	Litter size	Side effects	Fertility rate	Average No, of litters
	1	3	Nil
	2	5	Nil
A	3	4	Nil	83%	3.0
	4	Nil	Nil
	5	3	Nil
	6	3	Nil
	1	5	Nil
	2	5	Nil
	3	2	Nil
B	4	3	Nil	83%	3,1
	5	Nil	Vaginal
			bleeding
	S	4	Nil
	1	4	Nil
	2	s	G.I.D.
C	3	5	G.I.D.	100%	4.$
	4	5	Nil
	5	3	Nil
	6	6	Nil
	1	5	G.I.D.
	2	6	G.I.D.
D	3	8	Nil	1010%	6,0
	4	6	G.I.D.
	5	5	G.I.D.
		fi	Nil
	1	4	Nil
	2	3	Nil
E	3	5	Nil	100%	3.6
	4	3	Nil
	5	2	Nil
	6	5	Nil
	1	4	G.I.D.
	2	5	Nil
F	3	5	Nil	100%	4.5
	4	4	Nil
	5	4	Nil
	6	5	Nil
	1	7	Nil
	2	S	G.I.D.
	3	6	G.I.D.	100%a	5.5
	4	5	Nil
	5	4	Nil
	6	6	Nil

G.I.D.--Gastrointestinal disturbances.

was continued irrespective of the sⁱde effects. All the females were observed for 35 days after successful mating.

Results and Discussion

The results of these experiments are shown in the table. The fertility rate in the -control group (A) was 83% with an average of 3.0 young ones born to each female. The fertility rate in the group B was also 83 ( : while in group C and D it was 10^,0 % in each group. The average number of litters born in all the three groups was 3.1, 4.8 and 6.0 respectively. The increase in litter size was significan' in groups C and D (P = <0.05) while it was not significant in the group B (P= 0.05).

The fertility rate in the groups receiving Aloes compound tablets was 1.00^,-,' in all the three groups (E, F & G), with an average of 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 young ones born in each group respectively. When the results were statistically analysed, there was a significant increase in litter size in all the three groups (P==<0.05). However the increase was not significant when the results of the groups receiving Aloes indico powder (B, C, D) and Aloes compound tablets (E, F, G) were compared. The incidence of side effects was significantly lower in the groups receiving Aloes compound tablets.

From the results it appears that Aloes indica has a fertility promoting rather than antifertility property. The mechanism by which Aloes acts as a fertility promoter is however not known at the moment. It could be because of its effect to cause pelvic congestion. The incidence of side effects was lower in the groups receiving Aloes compound tablets and this was probably because the other ingredients present in the Aloes compound tablets whi^,ch acted as corrective.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to M/s. Alarsin Pharmaceuticals, Bombay for their generous supply of Aloes indica powder and Aloes Compound tablets. We are also grateful to Dr. G. N. Constable, M.D., Principal, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana for allowing us to carry out this study in the Department of Pharmacology.

References

1. Goodman, L. S. and Gillman, A.: The Pharmacologic-il Basis of Therapeutics, pp, 1017, 1965.

2. Gjerstad, G, and Riner, T. D.: Current status of Aloes as a Cureall. Amer. J. Pharmacy, 140: 58-fi4, 19fi$.