International Journal of Scientific Reports | October 2024 | Vol 10 | Issue 10 Page 346 International Journal of Scientific Reports Sallah L et al. Int J Sci Rep. 2024 Oct;10(10):346-355 http://www.sci-rep.com pISSN 2454-2156 | eISSN 2454-2164 Original Research Article Anti-implantation and uterotonic properties of Mentha pulegium L. in female Sprague-Dawley rats Lorraine Sallah 1 *, Peter N. Coffie 2 , Duduyemi M. Babatunde 3 , Cynthia Amaning Danquah 4 , Fred K. Baah 4 , Priscilla K. Mante 4 , Kofi O. Owusu-Daaku 5 ABSTRACT Background: Some traditional herbs disrupt endocrine-endometrial synchrony, affecting embryo-endometrium communication during fertility. Hormonal imbalances cause non-receptive conditions, leading to anti-implantation or abortion. Historically, Mentha pulegium has served for contraceptive and abortive purposes. Its effects on the post- coital contraceptive and hormonal activities were evaluated. Methods: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley female rats were selected based on the presence of copulation plugs and received 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of Hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mentha pulegium L. (MPE) for seven days. Reproductive organ weights and serum estrogen and progesterone levels were measured. The resorption index, anti - implantation activity, and pre-implantation loss were also calculated using the number of implantation sites and resorptions in all treatments. Data were presented as mean±standard error mean (SEM), and significance was defined as p<0.05 using one-way ANOVA. Results: Post-coital administration of MPE resulted in resorptive, pre-implantation loss, and anti-implantation activity. A dose of 200 mg/kg reduced the number of implantations and exhibited a high resorption index, percentage pre-implantation loss, and anti-implantation activity. A marked decline in serum progesterone levels and a significant reduction in serum estrogen and progesterone ratio was observed at 200 mg/kg MPE. A significant increase in uterine weight was observed in the 500 mg/kg treatment. Doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg resulted in a significant reduction in anti-implantation activity. Conclusions: The observed anti-implantation activity and pre-implantation loss suggest the abortifacient properties of MPE. However, its effects were seen to be dose-dependent. Keywords: Post-coital contraceptive, Anti-implantation, Pre-implantation loss, Estrogen, Progesterone, Dose- dependent 1 Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana 2 Department of Physiology, Accra College of Medicine, Accra, Ghana 3 College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, Sierra Leone 4 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana 5 Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana Received: 28 June 2024 Revised: 16 August 2024 Accepted: 17 August 2024 *Correspondence: Lorraine Sallah, E-mail: lsallah.chs@knust.edu.gh Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20242693