Antifertility effects of some coumarins isolated from Ruta chalepensis and R. chalepensis var. latifolia in rodents

Crude extracts of Ruta chalepensis and R. chalepensis var. latifolia showed antifertility activity in female rats. In order to establish the active constituents which may be responsible for this effect, a group of selected coumarins and alkaloids were tested in vivo. Although chalepensin, bergaptol, chalepin and xanthatoxin showed antifertility activity, 70% of the test animals developed cystic and atretic follicles in their ovaries and glomerulocapsular adhesion and segmental fusion was observed in the kidneys. No harmful effect was observed in the brain. Alkaloids in this study showed no antifertility activity.