Effect Of Ethanolic Extract From The Leaf Of Gnetum Africanum On Endocrine Function In Female Rats

Abstract

Activity of ethanolic extract of the leaf Gnetum africanum impacted on endocrine functions in female rats was investigated. The plant is extensively consumed as vegetable by most people of Niger Delta region in Nigeria. The ethanolic extract of the plant was soxhlet extracted followed by standard procedure. 40 female rats weighing between 120 and 150 g were divided into 4 group. Group 1, 2, 3 received orally 10, 200 and 700 mg/kg/d, ethanolic extract of the leaf  of Gnetum africanum respectively; and group 4 received 2 ml normal Saline as control for 3 days. On 4^th day after treatment rats of all groups were sacrificed and blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture into centrifugal tubes and allowed to clot. Serum-samples were centrifugally separated and collected into reagent bottles for use in hormonal assays. Results showed that treatment with various doses of ethanolic extract caused dose dependent decrease in serum levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Progesterone and increase in Luteinizing Hormones (LH), Estrogen (Es) and no alteration in prolactine serum level. These observations allow the suggestion that reduction in serum levels of FSH and progesterone might be due to the negative feedback mechanism with respect to increased serum levels of estrogen.

Keywords: Ethanolic extract, Gnetum africanum, endocrine function, female rats and  hormonal assays.