Pro-fertility Effects of Gboma Eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon ) Leaf Extract in Female Albino Rats
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Fertility enhancement has been the subject of research for many years; more so due to the observed decline in fertility worldwide. Solanum macrocarpon has been widely acclaimed for its medicinal and antioxidant properties. However, its effects on fertility parameters have not been reported. This study evaluated the impact of ethanol leaf extract of S. macrocarpon (ELESM) on fertility parameters in female albino rats. Thirty (30) female rats of about 10 – 12 weeks of age were separated into six groups administered 0.5 ml of distilled water (placebo), 400mg/kg ELESM, 800mg/kg ELESM, 10 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CP) + placebo, 10mg/kg CP + 400mg/kg ELESM, and 10mg/kg CP + 800mg/kg ELESM, respectively. After treatment (42 days), the females were mated with normal (untreated) adult male rats. The ELESM-treated rats exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher numbers of primary/secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpora lutea than the control groups. Cross-section of the ovaries of female rats showed normal histoarchitecture and healthy follicles at various developmental stages in the control and ELESMtreated rats, as well as improvement in histoarchitecture of CP + ELESM rats, compared with the CP + placebo group. Although the ELESM-treated animals had slightly higher fertility index, there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between their live foetal numbers, mean foetus weights, mean foetal crown-rump lengths, number of resorbed embryos, and fertility index compared with those of the normal control. The findings suggest the pro-fertility effects of the extract in female rats and the potential to ameliorate cyclophosphamide-induced gonadal toxicity.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Deyhoul N, Mohamaddoost T, Hosseini M. Infertility-related risk factors: a systematic review. Int J Women’s Heal Reprod Sci. 2017; 5(1):24-29. doi:10.15296/ijwhr.2017.05
Gurunath S, Pandian Z, Anderson RA, Bhattacharya S. Defining infertility - a systematic review of prevalence studies. Hum Reprod Update. 2011; 17(5):575-588. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmr015
De Angelis C, Nardone A, Garifalos F, Pivonello C, Sansone A, Conforti A, Dato CD, Sirico F, Alviggi C, Isidori A, Colao A, Pivonello R. Smoke, alcohol and drug addiction and female fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2020; 18(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12958-020-0567-7
Alward KJ, Cockrum RR, Ealy AD. Associations of antral follicle count with fertility in cattle: A review. JDS Commun. 2023; 4(2):132-137. doi:10.3168/JDSC.2022-0283
Okoye CN, Ogwu D, Ihedioha JI, Ochiogu IS, Abiaezute CN, Mbegbu EC. Effects of methanol leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (hook f.) on the reproductive indices of female albino rats. Sci J Vet Adv. 2015; 4(4):25-31. doi:10.14196/sjvs.v4i4.1865
Sharaibi OJ and Afolayan AJ. Biochemical and hormonal effects of Nymphaea lotus aqueous extract on hyperprolactinemic female Wistar rats. Asian J Biochem. 2017; 12(3):91-98. doi:10.3923/ajb.2017.91.98
Onyegeme-Okerenta BM and Essien EB. Reproductive hormones and organs of female Wistar albino rats. Int J Biol Sci Appl. 2015; 2(5):42-47.
Mbegbu E, Uchendu CN, Ochiogu IS. Effects of ethanol fruit extract of Picralima nitida (Stapf) on conception and estrogenicity in female albino rats. Not Sci Biol. 2017; 9(4):487-493. doi:10.15835/nsb9410090
Atoe K, Idu M, Ikhajiagbe B, Bakre AG. The influence of methanol extracts of some plant species used in the management of pregnancy-related symptoms on the reproductive parameters of pregnant Wistar rats. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2023; 7(12):5658-5663.
Alkhalaf MI, Alansari WS, Alshubaily FA, Alnajeebi AM, Eskandrani AA, Tashkandi MA, Babteen NA. Chemoprotective effects of inositol hexaphosphate against cyclophosphamideinduced testicular damage in rats. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):12599. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68608-9
Ayegbusi OS, Enye LA, Saka OS, Omoaghe AO. Counteractive effects of extracts of Mangifera indica on testes of Wistar rat exposed to cyclophosphamide. Heliyon. 2023; 9(9):e19445. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19445
Ahlmann M and Hempel G. The effect of cyclophosphamide on the immune system: implications for clinical cancer therapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2016; 78(4):661-671. doi:10.1007/s00280-016-3152-1
Spears N, Lopes F, Stefansdottir A, Rossi V, De Felici M, Anderson RA, Klinger FG. Ovarian damage from chemotherapy and current
approaches to its protection. Hum Reprod Update. 2019; 25(6):673-693. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmz027
Jali AM, Alam MF, Hanbashi A, Mawkili W, Abdlasaed BM, Alshahrani S, Qahl AM, Alrashah ASS, Shahi HA. Sesamin’s therapeutic actions on cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity, molecular mechanisms, and histopathological characteristics. Biomed. 2023; 11(12):3238. doi:10.3390/biomedicines11123238
Theodoridis S, Drakou EG, Hickler T, Thines M, Nogues-Bravo D. Evaluating natural medicinal resources and their exposure to global change. Lancet Planet Heal. 2023; 7(2):e155-e163. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00317-5
El-Ghani MMA. Traditional medicinal plants of Nigeria: An overview. Agric Biol J North Am. 2016; 7(5):220-247. doi:10.5251/abjna.2016.7.5.220.247
Chaachouay N and Zidane L. Plant-derived natural products: A source for drug discovery and development. Drugs Drug Candidates. 2024; 3(1):184-207. doi:10.3390/ddc3010011
Noh S, Go A, Kim D Bin, Park M, Jeon HW, Kim B. Role of antioxidant natural products in management of infertility: A review of their medicinal potential. Antioxidants. 2020; 9(10):957. doi:10.3390/antiox9100957
Sharma M, Arya D, Bhagour K, Gupta RS. Natural aphrodisiac and fertility enhancement measures in males: A review. Curr Med Res Pract. 2017; 7(2):51-58. doi:10.1016/j.cmrp.2017.02.007
Ramalan MA, Shuaibu AB, Abdussalam US, Yaro AH. Aphrodisiac effect of methanol hypocotyls extracts of Borassus aethiopum Mart. in male Wistar rats. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2021; 5(10):1852-1858.
Alahmadi B. Effect of herbal medicine on fertility potential in experimental animals - an update review. Mater Socio Medica. 2020; 32(2):140-147. doi:10.5455/msm.2020.32.140-147
Komlaga G, Sam GH, Dickson RA, Mensah MLK, Fleischer TC. Pharmacognostic studies and antioxidant properties of the leaves of Solanum macrocarpon . J Pharm Sci Res. 2014; 6(1):1-4.
Oseni K, Babatunde O. Underutilized indigenous vegetable (UIV) in Nigeria: A rich source of nutrient and antioxidants - A review.
Ann Food Sci Technol. 2015; 16(2):236-247.
Osei MK, Banful B, Osei CK, Oluoch MO. Characterization of African eggplant for morphological characteristics. J Agric Sci Technol. 2010; 4(3):33-37.
Zhang YJ, Gan RY, Li S, Zhou Y, Li A-N, Xu D-P, Li, H-B. Antioxidant phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Molecules. 2015; 20(12):21138-21156. doi:10.3390/molecules201219753
Ezechukwu CS, Mbegbu EC, Nwani CD, Onoja SO, Orji EA, Ugwu GC, Nnamonu EI, Ugwu GN. Spermicidal and antioxidant potency of Solanum macrocarpon L. (African eggplant) leaf ethanol extract in albino rats. Comp Clin Pathol. Published online February 3, 2024. doi:10.1007/s00580-024-03556-8
Oluwatoyin AO, Olugbenga OM, Peter FA. Gonadosomatic index of female Wister rats treated with graded concentration of Aloe Vera gel. J Med Plants Res. 2013; 7(7):339-342. doi:10.5897/JMPR12.333
Slaoui M and Fiette L. Histopathology procedures: from tissue sampling to histopathological evaluation. Methods Mol Biol. 2011; 691:69-82. doi:10.1007/978-1-60761-849-2_4
Mbegbu EC, Omoja VU, Ekere OS, Okoye CN, Uchendu CN. Effects of ethanol fruit extract of Picralima nitida (Stapf) on fertility of pregnant rats. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015; 24(2):269-273. doi:10.1007/s00580-014-1888-8
Hazarika P, Choudhury K, Kalita P. Effects of certain herbal and synthetic drugs on the gonado-somatic index and utero-somatic index of adult female albino rats (Rattus albicans). Int J Basic Appl Res. 2018; 8(6):958-967.
Goldman KN, Chenette D, Arju R, Duncan FE, Keefe DL, Grifo JA, Schneider RJ. mTORC1/2 inhibition preserves ovarian function and fertility during genotoxic chemotherapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017; 114(12):3186-3191. doi:10.1073/PNAS.1617233114
Nayak PK, Mukherjee C, Mitra S. The relevance of antral follicle count (AFC) as a marker of ovarian reserve in normal and infertile women in a tertiary care centre in Central India. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 7(11):4711-4714. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184535
Silva EG, Kim G, Bakkar R, Bozdag Z, Shaye-Brown A, Loghavi S, Stolnicu S, Hadareanu V, Bulgaru D, Cayax LI, Pitalua MCT, Pinto K. Histology of the normal ovary in premenopausal patients. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2020; 46:151475. doi:10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2020.151475
Lusekelo MM, Gaymary GB, Noel LK, Robert AM. Antifertility effects of crude extracts from Acacia nilotica pods and Albizia lebbeck stem bark in female multimammate rats, Mastomys natalensis. J Physiol Pathophysiol. 2021; 12(1):1-10. doi:10.5897/JPAP2021.0137
Oladipo GO, Oladipo CM, Ibukun EO, Olugbuyi AO, Omisope O. Abortifacient efficacy of aqueous-acetone extracts of Adenopus breviflorus Benth seed in female albino rats. Toxicol Rep. 2020; 7:1387-1392. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.09.013
Ugwah-Oguejiofor CJ, Okoli CO, Ugwah MO, Okolo RU, Bello SO. Assessment of reproductive impact of the aerial parts of Caralluma dalzielii N. E. Br in female Wistar rats. Heliyon. 2020; 6(10):e05199. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05199
Chang CV, Felício AC, Reis JE de P, Guerra MDO, Peters VM. Fetal toxicity of Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002; 81(2):265-269. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00092-2
Ma J, Gao W, Li D. Recurrent implantation failure: A comprehensive summary from etiology to treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023; 13:1061766. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1061766
Schwarz A, Pinto E, Haraguchi M, De Oliveira CA, Bernardi MM, Spinosa HDS. Phytochemical study of Solanum lycocarpum (St. Hil) unripe fruit and its effects on rat gestation. Phyther Res. 2007; 21(11):1025-1028. doi:10.1002/ptr.2200
Tcheutchoua YC, Bilanda DC, Mengue Ngadena YS, Djomeni Dzeufiet PD, Owona PE, Goufani RBÁ, Fifen RN, Nguegan LM, Noubom M, Dimo T, Kamtchouing P. Acute and subchronic toxicity studies on the aqueous extract of the plant mixture (Bidens pilosa and Cymbopogon citratus aerial parts) in rat model. J Toxicol. 2022; 2022:1-13. doi:10.1155/2022/1998433
Okwunakwe AF, Saidu Y, Achor M, Isa SA, Abbas AY, Bilbis LS. Toxicity studies on aqueous-methanol pod extract of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) in Wistar strain albino rats. Niger J Basic Appl Sci. 2021; 28(2):1-9. doi:10.4314/njbas.v28i2.1
Ijioma SN, Emmanuel O, Nosiri CI, Ugbogu EA. Evaluation of toxicity profile and pharmacological potentials of Aju Mbaise polyherbal extract in rats. Sci Afr. 2021; 11:e00681. doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e0068