ANTIFERTILITY PRINCIPLES FROM MARSDENIA-TINCTORIA - PHARMACOLOGICAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL STUDIES

Marsdenia tinctoria, a perennial climber has been used by the Shautal of Bangladesh to induce abortion. Bio-activity directed phytochemical investigation revelaed that the plant contained tinctoramine, a new st eroidal alkaloid and tinctoralactone, a novel steroid as the active co nsistituents. Both the compounds showed oxytocic, antiimplantation and abortifacient activities in mice and rats. The alkaloidal fraction, w hich contained tinctoramine and tinctoralactone, did not have any adve rse effect on SGOT, SGPT, BUN and serum albumin when administered to r ats and mice. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spect ral studies (UV, IR, H-1 NMR and Mass) of these and related compounds isolated from plants of genus Marsdenia.