Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Gnetum Africanum and Talium Fructicosum on the Uterus of Adult Female Wistar Rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64137/31079377/IJMSD-V2I1P101Keywords:
Uterus, Gnetum africanum, Talinum fructicosum, Female Wistar rats, FertilityAbstract
The uterus is a hormonally responsive organ essential for female fertility. In many African communities, leafy vegetables such as Gnetum africanum and Talinum fructicosum are widely consumed for their perceived reproductive benefits. Despite their extensive dietary and ethnomedicinal use, scientific evidence on their direct effects on uterine structure remains limited. This study investigated the effect of aqueous extracts of G. africanum and T. fructicosum on the uterus of adult female Wistar rats when administered individually and in combination.
Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats weighing 150–200g were assigned to four groups (n = 6) based on their weights. Control was given distilled water and feed only, group 2 T. fructicosum extract, group 3 G. africanum extract, and group 4 a combination of G. africanum + T. fructicosum extracts. Extracts were administered orally for 12 weeks at a dose of 700mg per kg for the first 2weeks and thereafter increased to 1000mg per kg until the end of the 12weeks. The lethal dose was 5000mg per kg body weight. At the end of treatment, uteri were excised, weighed, and processed for histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Histological assessment focused on endometrial thickness, uterine gland morphology, epithelial integrity, and inflammatory changes, while histomorphometry took into consideration parameters like cell count, total area, average size, percentage area, and perimeter of uterine cells.
Animals in the control groups exhibited normal uterine histoarchitecture. While, T. fructicosum-treated group demonstrated mild uterine alterations, including reduced endometrial thickness and cytoplasmic vacuolation, suggestive of altered proliferative activity. The G. africanum-treated group showed visible uterine changes characterized by endometrial attenuation, uterine gland atrophy, and moderate inflammatory cell infiltration. Combined administration of both extracts resulted in moderate uterine responses, with preservation of glandular architecture and features indicative of a variant proliferative state.
Aqueous extracts of G. africanum and T. fructicosum exerted distinct effects on uterine histology in adult female Wistar rats. While T. fructicosum showed mild to moderate effects, G. africanum induced suppressive and inflammatory uterine changes. Combined exposure appeared to attenuate extreme structural alterations. From the histomorphometric study, the data lend scientific support to the claims that Gnetum africanum can act as a natural contraceptive agent in females, as evidenced by the reduced uterine glandularity. Extracts contain bioactive phytochemicals capable of reducing uterine glands and altering pituitary gonadotrophin signalling, a mechanism that could reduce fertility by impairing implantation or uterine support of early embryo. These findings provide experimental support for traditional claims and highlight the reproductive implications of dietary leafy vegetables, especially of Gnetum africanum.
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