Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats
Caralluma dalzielii 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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020320429 |
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| author | Chinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor Charles O. Okoli Michael O. Ugwah Ray U. Okolo Shuaibu O. Bello |
| author_facet | Chinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor Charles O. Okoli Michael O. Ugwah Ray U. Okolo Shuaibu O. Bello |
| author_sort | Chinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Caralluma dalzielii 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 Caralluma dalzielii (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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:01:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef2eacc75d3c49c3a8582aab747ea357 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:01:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef2eacc75d3c49c3a8582aab747ea3572022-12-22T00:39:02ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402020-10-01610e05199Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar ratsChinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor0Charles O. Okoli1Michael O. Ugwah2Ray U. Okolo3Shuaibu O. Bello4Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Pharmacy, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, NigeriaDepartment of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, NigeriaCaralluma dalzielii 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 Caralluma dalzielii (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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020320429Caralluma dalzieliiImplantation sitePregnant ratEmbryotoxicUterine weightLitter size |
| spellingShingle | Chinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor Charles O. Okoli Michael O. Ugwah Ray U. Okolo Shuaibu O. Bello Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats Heliyon Caralluma dalzielii Implantation site Pregnant rat Embryotoxic Uterine weight Litter size |
| title | Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats |
| title_full | Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats |
| title_short | Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats |
| title_sort | assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of caralluma dalzielii n e br in female wistar rats |
| topic | Caralluma dalzielii Implantation site Pregnant rat Embryotoxic Uterine weight Litter size |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020320429 |
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