Isolation, Characterization & Anti-fertility Activity of the Active Moiety from the Seeds of Ensete superbum Cheesm (Banakadali)

The ethanolic extract of the seeds of Ensete superbum Cheesm (Family Musaceae) furnished a compound with structure established as 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-hex-5-enyl)-chroman-2, 7-diol on the basis of physical and spectral basis. The anti-implantation activity of the ethanolic extract at doses of 100, 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight when administered on days 1-7 were 86.9, 94.4, and 98.8% respectively, as compared to the isolated fraction at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg body weight was 87.5 and 96.0% respectively as compared to their Control group. The isolated fraction was found to exhibit significant anti-estrogenic activity in immature female rats at the dose of 5 mg/kg, and the ethanolic extract exhibited very significant activity at the dose of 250 mg/kg-body weight. Histopathological studies revealed significant anti-ovulatory activity in immature female rats at the dose 5 mg/kg. The oral LD₅₀ value of the ethanolic extract of Ensete superbum Cheesm was found to be 3235.9 mg/kg.