Studies on antifertility effect of rhizome of curcuma longa linn.

Turmeric is used as a condiment and also as a herbal medicine in different kinds of illness. It is used by tribes as an antifertility and aborcifacient agent for a long period in different parts of India. Because of scarcity of research data regarding the effectiveness and mode of action of curcumin, the active principle present in turmeric, we undertake this research work to evaluate its antifertility effect. Control and curcumin treated albino rats were observed for ovulation by vaginal smear method. Ovarian weights were measured in control and curcumin treated rats for antigonadotrophic effect. Animals were scarified and histopathological examination of the ovaries and uteri were done. In the control group there was a normal oestrus cycle and ovaries, uteri also were normal. In curcumin treated group it was seen that there were absence of cornified epithelium in vaginal smear in all the rats which persist even after few days of withdrawn of the drug. And also there were no features of ovulation and ovaries showed cystic changes in histopathological examination. The result obtained from this study provide evidence that curcumin has antiovulatory effect probably by its antioestrogenic activity through suppression of negative feedback effect of estrogen on pituitary.