Hyperprolactin Activity of Aqueous Extract of Xylopia aethiopica on Female Wister Albino Rats

Anacletus, F.C., Nwauche, Kelechi ThankGod* and Wopara, Iheanyichukwu

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: nwauchekelechi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

This study investigated the effects of aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica on the reproductive hormone (prolactin) of female Wistar albino rats. Fifteen (15) female Wistar albino rats weighing 125g -150g were randomly divided into three (3) groups of five (5) rats per group. The first group (group 1) served as control (untreated group) and received distilled water while the other two groups were administered (oral) with hot aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg body weight respectively for 6 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the blood samples were collected to determine the reproductive hormone (prolactin) level. Results showed that there was significant increase (p<0.05) in the prolactin level of group 2 (20.00±15.00) ng/ml and group 3 (22.50±17.50) ng/ml of the treated rats when compared to the normal control group (6.00±1.00). These results confirm the traditional believe that the plant Xylopia aethiopica stimulates lactogenesis (milk production after giving birth). It therefore suggests that the prolactin level induced by this plant can suppress the ovulatory cycle and contribute to many factors inhibiting pregnancy at early stage of birth.

KEYWORDS: Xylopia aethiopica, reproductive hormone, prolactin, lactogenesis.

INTRODUCTION:

The exclusive use of herbal remedies to treat and manage ailments had served from the onset as the most important therapeutic approach available to man. However, the decline from its use due to the introduction of modern synthetic medicine started at about the beginning of the 20th century up to the 1970s (Wills, R.B.H., et al., 2000). Traditional medicine accounts for about 80% of the health needs of the rural populace in most regions of Africa, Xylopia aethiopicais one of the medicinal plants, the parts of which are of high medicinal value in many countries of Africa (Burkhills, H.M., 1985).

Mythilypriya R., et al (2007) reported that traditional medicines are used by about 60% of the world population both in the developing and developed countries where modern medicines are predominantly used (Mythilypriya R., et al., 2007). The use of herbs requires good knowledge of the toxicity dosage, purity, suitable extraction solvent and adverse effects (Murray A., 1998).

The plant, Xylopia aethiopica fruits locally called “uda” by the Igbo’s in the southern eastern part of Nigeria. This is a very important plant in Igbo land. Among the Igbo’s; the fruits are used as spices; and aqueous decoction is used especially after child birth probably for its antiseptic properties and to arrest bleeding. This plant has a wide spectrum of biological activities and has played a crucial role in traditional medicines because of their valuable physiological and pharmacological properties (Nnodim et al., 2011). The fruit have been found to contain volatile aromatic oil, fixed oil and rutin. It is used in the treatment of digestive system hypermotility (diarrohea), bronchitis, stomach aches, febrile pains and rheumatism. This fruit of Xylopia aethiopica has been reported to act as antioxidant, hypolipidemic and hypoglycaemic agent hence, confirming to its use as an antidiabetic agent (Ameyaw, Y., E. Owusu-Ansah, 1998). Most of these plants contain many bioactive chemical substances that produce definite physiological and biochemical actions in human body (Cho, E., et al., 2004). These bioactive constituents are alkaloids, tannin, flavonoid; Phenolic compound etc (Edeoga, H.O., et al.,2005). This study was therefore, embarked on to assess the effects of dietary Xylopia aethiopica on the reproductive hormone (prolactin) of female rats, since reproduction is largely governed by the hormonal milieu, among other factors.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Plant materials:

The Xylopia aethiopica fruits were obtained from Elele market in Emohua L.G.A of Rivers State, Nigeria. The plant material was sun dried for seven days. The dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica were milled to get a coarse powder used for the extraction of the powder were macerated in a 500 g percolator with 1250 ml of hot water. The mixture was allowed to stand for 48hoursafter which it was filtered and 20 mg and 30 mg concentration were used for groups 2 and 3 respectively.

Experimental Animals:

The female Wistar rats weighing between 120 and 250 g were used in this study. These animals were obtained from the Animals House of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Portharcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria following the institutional ethical approval. They were kept under standard laboratory conditions, fed with commercial growers mash, product of Bendel feeds and Flour mill limited, Ewu, Edo State Nigeria. Water and feeds were provided ad libitum. The animals were left for two weeks to acclimatize and then divided into three groups for experimentation.

Experimental Design:

The animals were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n=5x 3 group).The first group of animals which served as control was given distilled water. Group II and III were given 20mg/kg and 30mg/kg body weight respectively for 6weeks. In all the groups, the extract was administered through oral route. This treatment was by oral compulsion. All animals were allowed free access to food and water throughout the experiment.

Blood Collection:

Twenty four hours after the last doses were administered the animals were anaesthetized with chloroform vapour, quickly brought out of the jar and sacrificed. Whole blood was collected by cardiac puncture from each animal into clean dry test tubes. The blood in the clean dry test tubes were allowed to stand for about 15minutes to clot and further spun in a wester fuge centrifuge (Model 1384) at 10,000g for 5minues,serum was separated from the clot with Pasteur pipette into sterile sample tubes for the measurement of hormonal profile (prolactin level).

Data Analysis:

Data were presented as means ± SD. Data of test groups and control groups were analyzed statistically using ANOVA. The level of significance of the difference between test groups and control data were determined. Values of p < 0.05 were considered to imply statistical significance.

RESULTS:

The result of the study is as shown below:

Table 1: The effect of the aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica on the plasma prolactin level of female Wistar albino rats.

Treatment

Prolactin (ng/ml)

Group I (control)

6.0±1.00

Group II (20mg/kg)

Group III (30mg/kg)

22.50±17.50^a

20.00±15.00^a

Values are expressed as mean ± S.D, n=5. Values with superscript letter (a) are significantly different at p<0.05., compared with the control group.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

The result of the experiment on the effect of Xylopia aethiopica on the plasma level of the reproductive hormone (prolactin) in female wistar albino rats are shown in table 1.0 above. In group II (treated with 20 mg/kg) and group III (treated with 30 mg/kg), the plasma prolactin levels were seen to be 22.50 ±17.50 ng/ml and 20.00 ± 15.00 respectively. The results shows that there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in group II and III when compared with the control group. This probably implies that Xylopia aethiopica plants play important role in regulation of hormonal level. The serum plant stimulates the mammary glands to produce breast milk (lactation). Increased serum concentrations of prolactin during pregnancy cause enlargement of the mammary gland of the breast and prepare for the production of milk and as such inhibit ovulation and conception at early stage of child birth.

REFERENCES:

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Received on 01.05.2015 Modified on 22.05.2015

Res. J. Pharm. Dosage Form. & Tech. 7(3): July-Sept., 2015; Page 190-192

DOI: 10.5958/0975-4377.2015.00028.2