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Observations with estradiol titre, genitalia and parturition time in female albino rats treated with aqueous Adansonia digitata leaf extract


L.C. Agbugba
O.M. Obafemi
E.C. Odekhe
O.O. Leigh

Abstract

Folkloric claims that Adansonia digitata possess parturition-aiding properties were investigated by treating pre-pubertal female (n=45) and gravid (n=60) albino rats per os with aqueous-leaf-extract. Pre-pubertal rats were equally randomized viz: APP (2 mls distilled-water), BPP (250 mg/kg-extract) and CPP (2 mg/kg Cyclo-progynova®17β estradiol), treated as indicated for 7 days. Gravid rats were similarly randomized viz: A (2 mls distilled-water), B, C and D (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg-extract), respectively, treated daily as indicated from day 19 post-mating, until parturition. Feeds and water were provided ad libitum. Blood was assayed for estradiol, and genitalia harvested, post-euthanization, at 24 hours post-treatment in pre-pubertal rats. Gestation-length, parturition-time, litter-size and birth-weight were evaluated in gravid rats. Differences in mean values of estradiol-titre (pg/ml), reproductive-tract-length (cms), ovarian-weight (grams) and uterine-weight (grams) for BPP (9.44±0.88, 5.40±0.38, 0.08±0.01, 0.24±0.03,) and CPP (10.56±0.41, 5.00±0.42, 0.10±0.03, 0.25±0.04) were higher (P˂0.05) than for APP (3.82±0.48, 3.66±3.95, 0.03±0.01, 0.14±0.03), respectively. Differences in mean parturition-time (minutes) for A (88.6±2.73), B (81.2±4.06) and C (78.6±3.14) were higher (P<0.05) than for D (63.4±9.30). Differences in other parameters were not significant. Findings indicate that aqueous Adansonia digitata leaf-extract increased estradiol-titre and genitalia but shortened parturition-time in albino rats. Increased estradiol-titre possibly accounted for shortened parturition-time.


Keywords: Estradiol-titre; Genitalia; Parturition-time; Adansonia digitata leaf-extract; Albino rats.


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eISSN: 1119-4308