Medicina Tradicional y Naturopatía Clínica

Abstracto

Effects of Cleome gynandra Linn: Leaf Extract on Ovarian Folliculogenesis of Albino Mice

Jupitara Deka and J C Kalita

It is well known that the plant kingdom contains numerous bioactive substances affecting the regulation of reproduction. Cleome gynandra plant extracts contain phytoestrogenic compounds. These compounds act as agonist or antagonist estrogen receptors, thus affecting the steroid hormones level. In traditional medicine, Ceome gynandra is used by lactating females for enhancement of milk and as a housing drug. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methanolic extract of C. gynandra leaves on the folliculogenesis of female albino mice. The effect of C. gynandra methanolic leaf extracts on folliculogenesis was studied in sixteen (N=16) sexually matured female albino mice with regular oestrus cycle. Mice were randomly divided into four (4) groups of four (n=4) mice per group. The experimental groups were treated as follows: Group I treated with 250 mg/kg, Group II with 500 mg/kg, Group III with 0.01 mg/kg 17β estradiol and Group IV with 1% Tween 80 (control). Follicular growth and changes were studied through standard histological protocols. For each ovary, every 12th and 20th section was examined for counting primordial, primary, secondary, graafian and atretic follicles, respectively to obtain an overall view of the follicular populations per ovary. In this experiment, the dose of 500 mg/kg BW/day showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in primordial, primary, secondary and Graafian follicle compared to that of normal control mice. Significant increase in the number of atretic follicles was recorded in dose of 500 mg/kg BW/day compared to normal control mice. The dose of 250 mg/kg BW/day showed a similar decrease in primordial, primary, secondary and Graafian follicle compared to that of control mice (p<0.05). 17β Estradiol treated group showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in number of primordial, primary, secondary and Graafian follicle compared to that of normal control mice.