REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY AND FUNCTION OF VOCANGA AFRICANA LEAVES ON NON-PREGNANT FEMALE MICE
Elvis-Offiah UB1*, Bafor EE2, Sanusi OB1 , Uchendu AP2, Omoregie OO1, Onyiriuka CE1, Uba NC1, Ebiuwa DE1, Omoruyi O2, Tafamel EG3, Kadiri PB4
- Faculty of Life Sciences Science and Laboratory Technology Department, University of Benin, Nigeria
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Benin, Nigeria
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, University of Benin, Nigeria
- Department of Histopathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 11(1): 016-034 ; 2019
ABSTRACT
Family planning is a vital element of global wellbeing and development. The decoction of Vocanga africana leaves is locally used by women in Nigeria for birth control and other fecundity issues. To validate its scientific use, this study was aimed to investigate the safety level and the effects of the methanol extract of the plant leave on reproduction function factors using non-pregnant female mice. The phytoconstituents from the leaves were extracted by maceration using 99.8% methanol for 72h and afterward concentrated to dryness. The acute and sub-acute oral toxic profiles were examined. After 6 days of daily treatment with single doses of 30 and 300 mg/kg/p.o with progesterone (0.07 mg/kg/p.o), estradiol valerate (0.03 mg/kg/p.o) and 10% Tween 80 as controls the effects of VA on reproductive phases and cycle were examined. The effects of the extract (VA) on reproductive hormones including its estrogen-like and progesterone-like properties were additionally studied in juvenile animals. The extract VA did not induce any recognizable toxic changes after 24h, however, there were significant alterations of hematological parameters (***p<0.001) and tissue (heart and liver) histology after 14 days. At 300 mg/kg/day, VA significantly disturbed the normal estrous cycle by prolonging the length and the estrous phase (*p<0.05). It further altered the histology of ovarian and uterine tissues and significantly increased uterine weight (*p<0.05), however, the plasma level of reproductive hormones were not affected. All the effects of VA were comparable with estradiol valerate (standard). This has shown that leaf extract of VA has potential antifertility properties which would support the rationale for the traditional use. However, more work would be done to isolate the active components.
Email of correspondence:uloma.achilihu@uniben.edu
KEYWORDS: Vocanga africana, fertility, contraceptive, estrogens, progesterone