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The object ives of this study were to investigate the effect of growth regulators in callus induction, increase of biomass and to the yield more of cucurbitacin and cucurbitacin-E in leaf explants of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cu- cumerina. The explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (M S) mediu m supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of au xins like 2,4-dich lorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), (alpha)-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), Indole butyric acid (IBA), Indole acetic acid (IAA), cytokinins like Kinetin (kn) and Ben zyl adenine (BA). The different concen- trations and combinations of BA P + IBA, 2, 4-D + BAP and 2, 4-D + kn increased the callus of fresh weight and dry weight. Among all concentrations and combinations, the best results revealed that leaf-derived callus cultured on 2,4-D (3.0mg -l ) + kin (1.0 mg -l ) produced the highest total cucurbitacins content with an optimu m y ield 4.9% w/w and cucurbitacin-E 2.75%

Ethanol extract of whole plant of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cucumerina was evaluated for antiovulatory activity in adult rats. The ethanol extract at the doses 200 and 400mg/kg body weight (orally) affected the normal estrous cycle showing a significant increase in estrus and metestrus phases and decrease in diestras and proestrus phases. The extract also significantly reduced the number of healthy follicles (Class I-Class VI) and corpora lutea and increased the number of regressing follicles (Stage IA, Stage IB, Stage IIA, and Stage IIB). The protein and glycogen content in the ovaries were significantly reduced in treated rats. The cholesterol level was significantly increased, whereas, the enzyme activities like 3b-HSD and 17b-HSD were significantly inhibited in the ovary of treated rats. Serum FSH and LH levels were significantly reduced in the treated groups were measured by RIA. In acute toxicity test, neither mortality nor change in the behavior or any other physiological activities in mice were observed in the treated groups. In chronic toxicity studies, no mortality was recorded and there were no significant differences in the body and organ weights were observed between controls and treated rats. Hematological analysis showed no significant differences in any of the parameters examined (RBC, WBC count and Hemoglobin estimation). These observations showed the antiovulatory activity of ethanol extract of whole plant of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cucumerina in female albino rats. El extracto de etanol de toda la planta de Trichosanthes cucumerina var. cucumerina (L.) se evaluó en cuanto a su actividad antiovulatoria en ratas adultas. El extracto de etanol en dosis de 200 y 400mg/kg de peso corporal (oral) afectó el ciclo normal estral, mostrando un aumentó significativo en las fases de estro y metaestro y la disminución de las fases de diestro y proestro. El extracto también redujo significativamente el número de folículos sanos (Clase I=Clase VI) y cuerpo lúteo y aumentó el número de folículos en regresión (etapa I, etapa IB, etapa II y etapa IIB). La proteína y el contenido de glucógeno en los ovarios se redujeron significativamente en las ratas tratadas. El nivel de colesterol aumentó significativamente, mientras que, actividad de las enzimas 3b-HSD y 17b-HSD se inhibió significativamente en el ovario de ratas tratadas. FSH sérico y los niveles de LH se redujeron significativamente en los grupos tratados y medidos por RÍA. En la prueba de toxicidad aguda, no hubo mortalidad ni cambio en el comportamiento fisiológico o de cualquier otra actividad en los grupos tratados de ratas. En estudios de toxicidad crónica, no se registró mortalidad y no hubo diferencias significativas en el peso corporal o el peso de los órganos entre los controles y las ratas tratadas. Los análisis hematológicos no mostraron diferencias significativas en ninguno de los parámetros examinados (eritrocitos, recuento de glóbulos blancos y estimación de hemoglobina). Estas observaciones mostraron la actividad antiovulatoria del extracto de etanol de toda la planta de Trichosanthes cucumerina var. cucumerina en ratas albinas hembras.