Infertility effects of Ephedra major aqueous extracton uterine histological parameters of adult femaleBalb/C mice

Ephedra has been used for more than 5,000 years to treat conditions such as colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, wheezing, and nasal congestion. It has also been an ingredient in many dietary supplements used for weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance (especially in womankind). In Iran lots of documents were showed traditional usage of Ephedra major for stertility or abortion; so due to fnding any studies about this subject we decided to study infertility effects of the aqueous extract of Ephedra major on the uterus of adult female Balb/C mice. Aqueous extract of Ephedra major was provided in standard way of extraction. Final product of extract, containing the water soluble materials of 50mg Ephedra major powder per/ml. In this experimental study, adult females Balb/C mice (24-26gr.bw) were selected and divided randomly into fve groups: Control (Intact), distilled water injected (Sham), Receiving 100mg/kg.bw of extract, Receiving 200mg/kg.bw of extract, Receiving 300mg/kg.bw of extract. Intraperitonial (IP) injections were applied for 8 consecutive days. A day after the last injection, animals were killed, cupped and their uterus were fxed for histological studies. The experiments were repeated three times. Microscopic studies showed a signifcant decrease in large and small diameters of uterus, height of epithelium (P<0.001) and endometrium (P<0.05) at dose of 300mg/kg.bw and signifcant increase in epithelium (P<0.001) at the dose of 100mg/kg.bw. These experiments resulted that aqueous extract of Ephedra major has two kinds of effects: infertility (200 and 300mg/kg.bw) and fertility (100mg/kg.bw).