Fate of Embelin in Pippalyadi Yoga, an Ayurvedic oral contraceptive: Structure of Embelin-borax complex and evaluation of anti-fertility activity

Abstract

In the present communication, is reported the existence of embelin 1 as embelin-borax complex 3 in a stoichiometry of 1:2 in an Ayurvedic formulation Pippalyadi Yoga. The structure of the complex is established on the basis of spectral data and it is concluded that both the phenolic oxygens as well as carbonyl groups of embelin are involved in complex formation. Embelin-borax complex is stable under basic conditions; however, it is sensitive to acidic conditions and breaks up to yield embelin and borax on treatment with mild acids. Anti-fertility activity of formulation and individual constituents was evaluated at cellular and hormonal level in Sprague Dawley female albino rats. Pippalyadi Yoga showed better activity than any of the individual constituents in the formulation including the complex.