ALTERATION IN THE UTERINE PHOSPHATASES OF THE MOUSE AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRAGESTATIVE DOSE OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC FRACTION OF PETROLEUM ETHER EXTRACT OF MINT (MENTHA-ARVENSIS) LEAVES

Petroleum ether and benzene (1 : 1 v/v) chromatographic fraction of th e petroleum ether extract of Mentha arvensis leaves when administered to mated females from day 7-9 postcoitum (pc) interrupts nidation at t he 5 mg/mouse/day dose. At this dose a statistically significant decli ne in the alkaline and acid phosphatase content of the uterus on day 1 2 pc is also obtained. In contrast, with the post-coitally ineffective benzene and chloroform (1 : 1 v/v) fraction the uterine phosphatases are also not statistically altered.