Identification of senecionine and senecionine N-oxide as antifertility constituents in Senecio vulgaris

J Pharm Sci. 1988 May;77(5):461-3. doi: 10.1002/jps.2600770522.

Abstract

The MeOH extract of Senecio vulgaris L., administered po to rats on Days 1-10 postcoitum, significantly decreased the number of normal fetuses per pregnant rat found at autopsy on Day 16. Additional experiments showed a similar activity for its hepatotoxic constituents senecionine and senecionine N-oxide, suggesting that the latter two compounds were probably responsible for the effect seen with the extract. No antifertility effects were seen in MeOH extract-treated hamsters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Contraceptive Agents / analysis*
  • Cricetinae
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mesocricetus
  • Plants, Toxic*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / analysis*
  • Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / isolation & purification
  • Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Senecio / analysis*

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents
  • Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
  • senecionine N-oxide
  • senecionine