Enitome E Bafor1
,
Stacy E Eyohan1,
Osemelomen Omoruyi1,
Uloma B Elvis-Offiah2,
Buniyamin Ayinde3,
Gerald I Eze4,
Isibhakhomhen V Okosun1,
Philip A Obarisiagbon1,
Osamwonyi Igbinuwen5,
Kadiri P Braimoh6
For correspondence:- Enitome Bafor Email: enitome.bafor@uniben.edu
Published: 31 December 2015
Citation: Bafor EE, Eyohan SE, Omoruyi O, Elvis-Offiah UB, Ayinde B, Eze GI, et al. Preliminary endocrinological, histological and haematological investigation of Alchornea laxiflora (Euphorbiaceae) leaf extract effects on the ovary, uterus and cervix of mouse models. J Sci Pract Pharm 2015; 2(1):55-63 doi: 10.47227/jsppharm.v2i1.12
© 2015 The author(s).
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Purpose: The decoction from the leaves of Alchornealaxiflora (AL) is often used by women in Edo state, Nigeria to prevent preterm birth (miscarriage). This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the effect of the extract on the female reproductive structures.
Methods: The methanol leaf extract of AL (100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg p.o.) was administered for 6 days at 10 a.m. daily to non-pregnant female mice using 0.2 ml of 10 % tween 80 as negative control and progesterone (10 mg/kg s.c.) as positive control. The weights of the animals were taken before administration, daily during administration and after AL administration.
Results: The findings reveal that the lower dose of AL (100 mg/kg) showed progesterone-like effects on the ovaries, uterus and cervical glands causing increased number and development of ovarian follicles and proliferation of the uterine endometrial glands while the high dose resulted in extrusion of the ovum from the Graafian follicle and resulted in glandular hyperplasia and atrophy of the uterine stroma.
Conclusion: AL has been shown to exert progesterone-like effects at low dose and this may account for its use by traditional healers in Nigeria for maintaining pregnancy.
