The present study has been undertaken to know the effect of a carbamate
insecticide, carbofuran, on estrous cycle and follicular growth in virgin Wister rats as
well as recovering from the damaged estrous cycle with treatment of Phyllanthus amarus
lignans viz. phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin, the two major lignans of this important herb
and generally know as phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal plant molecules
with estrogen-like activities whose structure differs from gonadal hormones, but with an
estrogen-type activity: they are capable of interacting with estrogen receptors, showing
both agonist and antagonist methods of action. Since, phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin
have been found to be systemically transformed into enterolignan(s), which is known to
be responsible for augmenting estrus cycle in rats.