Preliminary study of sex hormones of medical importance in Bangladeshi plants.

Twenty six different Bangladeshi plants of folkloric contraceptive use were screened for their oil content, percent unsaponifiables and steroids particularly estradiol, and estrogenic steroids. The distribution of these parameters were studied in seeds, roots, leaves, barks and whole plants. The oil content ranged between 0.23 and 6.75% being highest in Jasminium sacbac (family : oleaceae) seeds. The unsaponifiables varied from 0.04 to 7.87% showing highest content in Xanthium stamanium (roots), and least in Litsea sebifera (Leaves). All plants tested showed positive Salkowski test. Of all 26 plants screened, Synedrella Nodiflora (whole plant), Heliotropicum indicum (root), Belva chal (Bark) and Phyllanthus neruri (whole plant), showed high content of estradiol. Amongst these four, Heliotropicum indicum root showed highest concentration of estradiol.