Biochemical insights into the abortifacient activity of ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin in pregnant Cavia porcellus

Background Unintended pregnancies remain a major public health challenge in low-resource settings, where medicinal plants are commonly used for fertility regulation. Spondias mombin is traditionally employed for reproductive health management, including pregnancy termination, but experimental evidence remains limited. This study investigated the chemical composition and provided biochemical insights into the abortifacient activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin (ELESM) in pregnant female Cavia porcellus (guinea pigs). Methods Chemical constituents of ELESM were determined using HPLC-DAD. Pregnancy was confirmed in mated female C. porcellus (male:female; 1:1) by vaginal smear analysis. Pregnant animals, which were assigned into sham control (SC; non-pregnant, distilled water treatment only), negative control (NC; pregnant C. porcellus + distilled water), positive control (PC; pregnant C. porcellus + mifepristone), and pregnant C. porcellus + ELESM-treatment (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight), were treated accordingly during gestation days (GD) 35–65 (mid-late gestation) of pregnancy. Pregnancy-related parameters were assayed. Results The HPLC-DAD revealed the presence of several flavonoids and phenolic acids, including quercetin, kaempferol, chlorogenic acid, and other putatively identified chemical compounds. The ELESM, like mifepristone, produced significant ( p < 0.05) treatment-related reduction in post-implantation pregnancy outcome (litter size, live foetuses), serum levels of progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, and estradiol; ovarian weight and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity; uterine weight, protein, glucose, and lipid concentrations, when compared with the SC. In contrast, ELESM, like mifepristone, significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the number of dead foetuses, foetal resorption, computed abortifacient activity, ovarian alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities when compared with the SC. Conclusion The ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin exhibited abortifacient activity, via altered hormonal levels, steroidogenic enzymes and disruption of pregnancy-related biochemical processes, likely mediated by one or a combination of the identified chemical constituents in Spondias mombin leaves.