Lipophilic and hydrophilic leaf extracts of (Purslane) disrupts female sex hormones in albino rats ().

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Decoctions and infusions from the aerial parts of Linn., especially the leaves and stems, are used by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria to enhance fertility in humans. The scarcity of literature on the use of this plant for the said purpose as well as its efficacy prompted this research. Study investigated effect of lipophilic and hydrophilic leaf extracts of on oestrous cycle, female sex hormones at various phases of oestrous cycle and ovarian and uterine histomorphology in albino rats.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Experimental animals were randomly divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group A (control) received 0.5 ml 20% Tween 80 (vehicle), groups B, C & D received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of the lipophilic extract respectively and E, F & G received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of the hydrophilic extract respectively for 21 days. Oestrous cycle was assessed daily. At the end, blood samples (for hormones) and ovarian &uterine sections (histoarchitecture) were collected.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Both extracts had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on oestrous cycle, ovarian & uterine histoarchitecture and female sex hormones except at proestrus phase where significant (p < 0.05) decrease in LH and FSH was recorded. as used in this study may have deleterious effect on female reproductive system as shown by the disruption of the hormones at proestrus phase. This can form a basis to refute the use of leaf extracts in enhancing fertility as it has been shown to affect the gonadotropins involved in folliculogenesis.