The The Effect of Methanolic Extract of Moringa oleifera Lam Roots on the Histology of Ovary and Female Reproductive Tract of Guinea Pigs.

Abstract

M. oleifera Lam has various pharmacological actions yet the toxicity profiles have not received a robust attention. Hence the need for a study of this kind, which aims at determining the effect(s) of methanolic extract of M. oleifera lam root on the histo-architecture of ovary and reproductive tracts of albino winter rats considering specific goals as time and dose dependence and possible mechanism of action. 'LD50 Ip” of 223.61mg/kg was determined using modified Lorke's 1983 method. Twenty-four (24) Sows were used for the study, they were acclimatized and randomly distributed into groups A-C and control group. Daily intra-peritoneal injection of methanolic extract of M. oleifera root was administered for three (3) weeks. Doses of 3.6mg/kg, 4.6mg/kg and 7.0mg/kg were given to groups A, B and C respectively. Intra-peritoneal injection of extract was administered once daily. Four Sows were sacrificed on the 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd days. Tissues collected were prepared for staining with hematoxylin and eosin.  Normal histological features were seen in Sections of ovary and reproductive tract from groups A and control as well as ovary from group B. Distortion of histo-architecture was noted in group B ovary, and histological sections of ovary and reproductive tract from group C. Sections from reversal group showed normal histology of ovary comparable to the control group while the genital tracts retained the distortion in histo-architecture. Ovarian distortion resulted in reduced viability of the follicles, which in turn cannot produce hormones to effectively sustain fertilized ovum. The effect on ovarian follicles is probably the most important mechanism of action. The effects of dis-functional ovary on the reproductive tracts are; fusion of plicae in fallopian tubes, contraction of the myometrum, dilated endocervical glands with increased mucin secretion and keratinization and desquamation of vaginal epithelial cells. These histological findings have been correlated with the anti-implementation action of the extract in the light of its normal properties. Methanolic extracts of M. oleifera root causes distortion of the histoarchitecture of the ovary and female reproductive tract. The effect is more pronounced on tissues exposed to higher doses and for longer duration. The extract acted through several mechanisms to bring about the anti-fertility effects and these effects were found to be reversible.