Prostanoid mediated effects of centchroman, a non-steroidal oral contraceptive.

The effect of centchroman, a non-steroidal oral contraceptive, has been studied on platelet aggregation and on the products of arachidonate metabolism. Centchroman inhibited platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo after acute as well as chronic treatment for one year in laboratory animals. It did not affect aggregation of platelets in women taking centchroman for one year. It is an inhibitor of platelet cyclooxygenase as indicated by the inhibition of malonaldehyde and thromboxane B2 but has no effect on vascular cyclooxygenase activity ex vivo or at low concentration in vitro. Thus, centchroman is a safe antifertility agent without risk of thrombotic episodes associated with hormonal oral contraceptives.