Evidence based approach to unani contraceptives: a review

Authors

  • Saba Mohd Athar Khan Department of Ilmul Qabalat Wa Amraze Niswan, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, India
  • Ismath Shameem Department of Ilmul Qabalat Wa Amraze Niswan, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20160357

Keywords:

Unani medicine, Contraceptive, Herbal drugs

Abstract

Contraception is a process or technique for preventing pregnancy by means of medication, device or method that blocks or alters one or more of the processes of reproduction in such a way that sexual union can occur without impregnation. Promotion of family planning is central to the World Health Organization work on improving maternal health & is core to achieve the Millennium Development Goal. It is estimated that 90% of abortion related and 20% of pregnancy related morbidity and mortality, could be prevented by the use of effective contraception. Population explosion is the leading cause of poverty and pollution in developing countries which has detrimental effect on the life supporting system. Hence it is necessary to control the population by the use of contraceptives. Available contraceptives in conventional medicines have many adverse effects. Therefore, there is a need for research of newer, less expensive, less toxic, self-administered, completely reversible contraceptives. Much of these properties are observed in contraceptives as mentioned in classical Unani text. Unani physician has mentioned the various medicines & techniques of contraceptives. Scientific research has confirmed the efficacy of most of the herbal drugs like Ruta graveolans (Suddab), Juniperus communis (Abhal), Piper longum (Filfil daraz), Mentha arvensis (Pudina), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Punica granatum (Anar), Alium cepa (Piyaz) and Daucus carota (wild carrot) etc. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the ancient concept of contraception in Unani System of Medicine in the light of available scientific research.

References

Population reference bureau. 2014 world population data. 2015Aug; USAID publication. Available from:http://www.pbs.org. Accessed on 28 October 2015.

Population of India. Available at http:// www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/india current-population.html. Accessed on 24 August 2015 at 6:25 p.m.

Umadevi M, Kumar SPK, Bhowmik D, Duraivel S. Medicinal plants with potential antifertility activity. J Med Plants Studies. 2013;1(1):26-33.

Bernstein S. UN millennium project report. United Nation: population, reproductive health and the millennium development goal: 2005.

Wolski H. Selected aspect of oral contraceptive side effects. Pub Med. 2014;85(12):944-49.

Rajan TS, Sarathchandiren I, Kadalmani B. Investigation of herbal oral contraceptive suspensions for its antisteroidogenic and antioxidant properties. Int J Pharm Biomed Sci. 2013;4(1):50-8.

Evolution and revolution the past present and future. Contraception Report. 2000;10(6):12.

Asif M. A review on spermicidal activities of Azadiracta indica. J Pharmacogn phytochem. 2013;1(15):61-79.

Sneader W. Drug Discovery A History [Internet] England: John Willey and Sons Ltd; 2005. Available at: http://gzy.hainmc.edu.cn/ jingpin/yl/jxzy/ckwx/ drug%20discovery1.pdf. Accessed on 21 October 2015.

Hopkins K. Contraception in the Roman Empire. Contraceptive studies in society and history. 1965;13:124.

Schorge OJ, Schaffer IJ, Halvarson ML, Hoffman LB, Bradshaw DK, Cunningham GF. Williams Gynecology. 21st ed. China: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008:449-453.

Razzack MA, Fazal U. The concept of birth control in Unani medicine. New Delhi:CCRUM; 1993:3,55-63.

Jurjani AH. Zakheera Khawarzam Shahi (Urdu translation by Khan HH). Vol. 02. Part 06. Lucknow: Matba Munshi Navi Kishore; 1903:623-624.

Majusi AA. Kamil Us Sanaa (Urdu translation by Kanturi GH). Vol. 2. Lucknow: Matba Munshi Naval Kishore;1889:502.

Khan MA. Al Akseer (Urdu translation). Vol. 2. New Delhi: Ejaz publishing house; 2003:1401-1403.

Sina I. Al Qanoon Fit Tib (urdu translation by kanturi GH) Vol. 03. New Delhi: Idara Kitabul Shifa; 2010:1082-1083.

Zakaria Razi. Kitab Al Hawi (Urdu translation by (CCRUM). Volume. 9. New Deilhi: Ministry of Heaith and Family Welfare; 1999:120-150.

Alqamri MH. Ghana Mana. New Delhi: CCRUM; 2008:397-398.

Bhowmik D, Chiranjib, Yadav J, TripathiK, Kumar KP. Herbal remedies of Azadirachta indica and its Medicinal Application. J Chem Pharm Res. 2010;2(1):62-72.

Sarwar AH, Nirala RK, Arif M, Khilare B, Thakur SC. Spermicidal activity of the hexane extract of Piper longum: an in vitro study. Pub Med. 2015;29(12):1166-9.

Khare CP. Indian Medicinal plants An Illustrated Dictionary [Internet]. New Delhi: Springer; 2001. Available at: http://www.tee.org/fileadmin/ downloads/Botanische%20Bestandsaufnahme%20indischer%20Heilpflanzen.pdf. Accessed on 28 October 2015.

Shweta G, Chetna R, Jinkal S, Nancy S, Hitesh J. Herbal plants used as contraceptive. Intern J Curr Pharm Rev Res. 2011;2(1):47-53.

Ibrahim SR, Mohammed JA, Haidri RA. A review on natural contraceptive agents. Am J Pharm Tech Res. 2014;4(3):124-57.

Prakash AO et al. Anti-implantation activity of some indigenous plants in rats. Pub med. 1985;16(6):441-48.

Priya G, Saravanan K, Renuka C. Medicinal plant with potential antifertility activity. IJPRIF. 2012;4(1):481-94.

Zhou B, Qiu Z, Liu G, Liu C, Zhag J. Spermicidal and antigonococcal effects of tannins from pomegranate rind. J med plants res. 2012;6(7):1334-9.

Thakare VN, Khotavade PS, Dhote VV, Deshpande AD. Antifertility activity of ethanol extract of Allium cepa Linn in Rats. IJPTR. 2009;1(1):73-8.

Harat ZN, Sadeghi MR, Sadeghipour HR, Kamalinejad M, Eshraghian MR. Immobilization effect of Ruta graveoalns L. on human sperm: a new hope for male contraceptive. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;115:36-41.

Itrat M, Arsahd Jamal M, Zarnigar, Siddiqui MA. A review of contraceptive drugs described in Unani literature. J Biol Sci Opinion. 2013;1(3):278-81.

Agrawal P, Bharadwaj S, Mathur R. Antifertility effect of fruits of Juniperus communis. Thieme Plant Medica. 2008;40:98-101.

Pathak S, Tewari rk, Prakash AO. Hormonal properties of ethanolic extract of Juniperus Communis Linn. Ancient Sci Life. 1990;10(2):106-13.

Ghaffari MA, Motlaqh B. In vitro effect of lead on human sperm creatine kinase. Pub Med. 2011;15(1):38-43.

Ghosh A, Jana K, Pakhira BP, Tripathy A, Ghosh D. Antifertility effect of aqueous ethanolic (1:1) extract of the fruit of Terminalia Chebula: rising approach towards herbal contraception. Asia Pacific J. 2015;4(3):201-07.

Joshi CS, Sharma A, Sharma P, Chaturvedi M. Contraceptive efficacy of Citrulus Colocynthis methanolic extract in male rats. Am J Phytomed clin Therap. 2014;2(2):229-41.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-17

Issue

Section

Review Articles