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Methanolic Seed Extract of Piper Guineense Inhibits Fertility of Female Sprague Dawley Rats
Author(s) -
OlatunjiBello Ibiyemi I,
Awobajo Funmileyi O,
Ajiboye Muibat A
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.101
Subject(s) - estrous cycle , fertility , pregnancy , body weight , piper , physiology , traditional medicine , biology , medicine , endocrinology , population , genetics , environmental health
The effects of methanolic seed extract of Piper guineense on fertility were studied using forty‐two pubertal Sprague Dawley female rats. The methanolic seed extract of Piper guineense was administered orally to the treated group for 28 days at a dose of 40mg/kg body wt. All animals had free access to food and water. Body weight changes were monitored. After 4 weeks treatment period, seven rats from each group were sacrificed at proestrous phase of the estrous for blood hormonal assays and histological studies. The remaining 14 rats in each group were cohabitated with males of proven fertility. On the 19 th day of pregnancy, seven rats each from each group were sacrificed for pregnancy studies. The results showed that there was a statistically significant greater occurrence of diestrous phase in the treated rats. Furthermore, there was a fewer number of developing follicles in the treated rats. Serum FSH was also lower in the treated group while serum estrogen and progesterone levels were significantly higher when compared to the control group. There was no significant change in body weight in both treated and control rats. There was no pregnancy recorded in the treated group but mating was successful in the control group where all the rats were pregnant. Some of the rats in the treated group were able to get pregnant only after recovering from the effect of the extract for 3 weeks. In conclusion therefore, methanolic seed extract of Piper guineense would have a negative effect on female fertility in rats.