Effects of the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Pteridium acquilinum (linnaeus) on some female rats hormones

Abstract

This study screens the phytochemicals present in and evaluates the effect of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Pteridium acquilinum (dennstaedtiaceae) [Linnaeus] on some reproductive hormones; follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in female Albino rats. Twenty female Wister albino rats weighing 120-140g (12 “ 13 weeks old) were used. They were divided into four groups of five rats each. The rats in groups I and II were given 50 mg/kg body weight of aqueous and methanolic leaf extract respectively orally using orogastric tube. Group III served as negative control while group IV were treated with standard drug. Blood sample was collected from the rats weekly for four weeks (twenty eight days). The methods of Microwell (Sigma, USA) enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) were employed to estimate the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The result shows that both the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the plant significantly (p< 0.05) increased the level of FSH throughout the period of the experiment. Similarly, the extracts also significantly (p< 0.05) increased the level of LH at week 2, but continue to decline at week 3 and 4 which show a similar pattern with the standard drug used. It can be concluded that, P. acquilinum leaf extracts have the potential to enhance fertility by increasing serum levels of FSH and LH which in turn increases the number of oocytes released at ovulation possibly through its antioxidant properties.

Key words: Hormones, Elisa, Albino Rats, and Pteridium aquilinum