Pharmacological Actions of Paeonia Officinalis*†

Wenzel, Duane G.; Haskell, A.R.

doi:10.1002/jps.3030410317

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…Nine plants have been experimentally studied and demonstrate abortifacient or antifertility activity. These include Apium graveolens (extracts were found effective in causing contraction of the gravid and virginal uterus), 22 Crocus sativus (various extracts stimulated uteri of guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs), 23 Coriandrum sativum (aqueous extracts of seeds at doses of 250-500 mg/kg produced a dose-dependent significant anti-implantation effect), 24 Foeniculum vulgare (a drug preparation containing fine powders of the plant seed administered orally at 500 mg/kg to rats inhibited implantation in 60% of pregnant rats and increased the percentage of fetal loss), 25 Juniperus sabina (tops of J. sabina, when taken orally in large doses, produced abortions followed by serious poisoning; analysis of an aborted fetus showed the presence of oil of sabine in the viscera of the fetus, which proves the permeability of the placenta to the poison; 26 in addition, when the essential oil was evaluated for its fetotoxic potential on mice, the oil induced an embryotoxic effect; 27 the abortifacient effect of J. sabina essential oil has been attributed to an implantation-inhibiting effect induced by sabinyl acetate), 28 Paeonia officinalis (a crude alcohol extract of the root produced uterine stimulation in the rat), 29 Phaseolus vulgaris (3 phytohemagglutinins isolated from P. vulgaris induced abortion in all pregnant mice tested in early pregnancy), 30 Punica granatum (methanolic extracts prevented implantation in 50% of rats 33 and inhibited pregnancy in 70-90% of rats), 32 and Ruta graveolens (ethanolic and benzene extracts inhibited pregnancy in 50-60% of rats). 32 3.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Cytotoxic Botanical Formulations Used in the Traditional Medicine of Ancient Persia as Abortifacients

Madari

Jacobs

2004

J. Nat. Prod.

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We report here an analysis of plants used by traditional healers of ancient Persia to induce abortions. Six herbal formulations that contain 39 different species from 21 plant families with their vernacular names, English names, amounts used, and their methods of preparation are reported. Our initial objective of this ethnobotanical analysis was to evaluate the validity and the efficacy of the plants used by (1) comparing other reported uses of these plants in traditional medicine, (2) investigating the medical and pharmacological literature on the medicinal properties of the plant species used, and (3) investigating the reported cytotoxic effects of compounds prevalent in these plants. Previous phytochemical analyses have shown that a number of plant species are rich in coumarin compounds that have potential antineoplastic or cytotoxic activities. Our results indicate a correlation between the reported use of these plants as abortifacients and their cytotoxic (antineoplastic) effects. In addition, we discuss the process in which this ethnobotanical investigation led to the discovery of dicoumarol (a coumarin anticoagulant) as a potential chemotherapeutic agent.

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