Ugwah-Oguejiofor Chinenye J, Okoli Charles O, Ugwah Michael O, Okolo Ray U, Bello Shuaibu O
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.
Heliyon. 2020 Oct 17;6(10):e05199. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05199. eCollection 2020 Oct.
N. E. Brown belonging to family Asclepiadaceae, is a popular cactus-shaped plant native to East Africa. The aerial parts are used traditionally for treating various diseases including infertility. The present study evaluated the effects of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of (AECD) on reproductive performance of female Wistar rats. Adult female virgin rats were allotted into four major groups namely pre-conception, post-conception, implantation site and ovariectomized rats' groups. Each group was subdivided into 4 groups and treated orally with 125, 250, 500 mg/kg of AECD or distilled water (vehicle). In the pre-conception and post-conception groups, litter sizes, pups' weights, deformities, gestation length and reproductive indices were determined. Number of implantation sites and weights of embryos were assessed in the implantation site group while in the ovariectomised rats' group, uterine weights were determined. AECD produced no difference in litter size and reproductive indices in pre-conception group while in post-conception group the litter size at 500 mg/kg was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced compared to the control. Post-implantation loss index was high, and the other reproductive indices were reduced at 500 mg/kg. Whereas at the dose of 125 mg/kg, post-implantation loss index was reduced, and litter size was increased when compared to the control group. At 500 mg/kg, AECD caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the number of implantation sites and weight of embryos while at 125 mg/kg the implantation sites increased. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in the uterine weight in the ovariectomised rats' group was observed at all dose levels. Our study provides scientific evidence that supports the traditional use of AECD in the treatment of infertility. At a lower dose, AECD acts by increasing the number of implantation sites and litter size of animals but at a higher dose, it may be embryotoxic. AECD increases uterine wet weight in ovariectomised rats suggesting that the plant may be oestrogen-like.
牛角瓜属于萝摩科，是一种原产于东非的常见仙人掌状植物。其地上部分传统上用于治疗包括不孕症在内的各种疾病。本研究评估了牛角瓜地上部分水提取物（AECD）对雌性Wistar大鼠生殖性能的影响。成年雌性未孕大鼠被分为四个主要组，即受孕前、受孕后、着床部位和去卵巢大鼠组。每组再细分为4组，分别口服125、250、500 mg/kg的AECD或蒸馏水（赋形剂）。在受孕前和受孕后组中，测定产仔数、幼仔体重、畸形情况、妊娠期长度和生殖指数。在着床部位组中评估着床部位数量和胚胎重量，而在去卵巢大鼠组中，测定子宫重量。AECD在受孕前组中产仔数和生殖指数没有差异，而在受孕后组中，500 mg/kg剂量时的产仔数与对照组相比显著减少（p < 0.05）。着床后损失指数较高，500 mg/kg剂量时其他生殖指数降低。而在125 mg/kg剂量时，着床后损失指数降低，与对照组相比产仔数增加。在500 mg/kg剂量时，AECD导致着床部位数量和胚胎重量显著减少（p < 0.05），而在125 mg/kg剂量时着床部位增加。在所有剂量水平下，去卵巢大鼠组的子宫重量均显著增加（p < 0.05）。我们的研究提供了科学证据，支持AECD在治疗不孕症方面的传统用途。在较低剂量下，AECD通过增加动物的着床部位数量和产仔数起作用，但在较高剂量下，它可能具有胚胎毒性。AECD增加去卵巢大鼠的子宫湿重，表明该植物可能具有雌激素样作用。
