Histological and Hormonal Study of the Effects of Ethanol Extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on Ovaries of Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Some plants can affect female reproductive health either positively or negatively.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ethanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on the follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, estrogen, progesterone, and histology of the ovary of adult female rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen female rats were grouped into A, B and C. Group A was the control and the animals were given distilled water orally, while groups B, and C were administered with ethanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum 250 and 500 mg/kg/ body weight daily for 30 days respectively. On day 31, the animals were euthanised by diethyl ether anaesthesia and blood samples were collected for serum hormonal assay. The ovaries were processed for histology.
RESULTS: Levels of Progesterone, FSH, Estrogen, and LH of the extract-treated groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05) when compared with the control group. Furthermore, the decrease observed was in a dose-dependent manner. Histological sections of the ovary of the rats after treatment with C. albidum in groups B and C showed the granulosa cells were not well differentiated and there was delayed maturation of ovarian follicles.
CONCLUSION: This study showed that C. albidum may possess anti-fertility agents as observed by the decreased in reproductive hormones and delay in folliculogenesis. Therefore, C. albidum leaf extract could be explored as a potential source of contraceptive for female.