| This study is to observe the anti-fertility effects of plant extract shikonin. Kunming mice were used as the test subjects in this experiment.The reproductive organs of the mice were detected with 5 mg/kg,20 mg/kg, and 50 mg/kg of shikonin concentrate, respectively. The female uterus, male seminal vesicle, testicle and sperm density were anatomized and measured in viscera coefficients. And an ideal shikonin concentration of 50 mg/kg was selected for breeding experiments.The results showed that the female uterus viscera coefficient of the mice from the group that was treated with a shikonin concentration of 50 mg/kg was significantly lower than that of the control group and the other two concentration groups (F=6.29, P< 0.01), and the female uterus showed obvious atrophy. The male seminal vesicle viscera coefficients and sperm density of the mice from the group that was treated with a shikonin concentration of 50 mg/kg was significantly lower than the control group (F=6.49, P< 0.01; F=4.60, P< 0.05).A shikonin concentration of 50 mg/kg appears to provide the expected anti-fertility effects. Results of mice reproduction experiments showed that a shikonin concentration of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced the birth rate of the female treatment and the male-female treatment groups, however, the effects to the male treatment group was not significant. Nevertheless, the reproductive start-up period of female and male mice was significantly delayed, which would effectively reduce the reproduction rate during mice breeding periods. Therefore, Shikonin can be used as a potential fertility control agent for small rodents. |
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