FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE
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Browsing FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE by Subject "ABORTIFACIENT"
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Item ABORTIFACIENT ACTIVITIES AND BIOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Citrullus colocynthis PODS IN PREGNANT FEMALE WISTAR RATS(UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, 2018-04) ADETUNJI, JULIANA BUNMIThe use of abortifacient herbs is now gaining acceptance over abortifacient drugs due to adverse effects and high cost. Citrullus colocynthis pods (Bitter Apple in English), have been claimed to be used as an abortifacient in Nigeria without scientific evidence to substantiate it. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the abortifacient activities of ethanolic extract of Citrullus colocynthis pods (EECCP) on pregnant female Wistar rats. The specific objectives were to: (i) qualitatively and quantitatively determine the secondary metabolites and mineral elements in EECCP; (ii) evaluate the abortifacient activity of EECCP on the pregnant female Wistar rats; and (iii) assess the biochemical changes on the pregnant Wistar rats after administration of EECCP. The secondary metabolites in EECCP were screened using standard methods. Sixty pregnant female rats (165.27 ± 7.13g) were randomized into six groups (A-F). Group A (control) received orally 0.5 ml of olive oil, Group B received 1.84mg/kg body weight (bwt) of Mifepristone (reference drug) while those in Groups C, D, E and F received orally 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg bwt of EECCP once daily for 9 days post pregnancy after which abortifacient parameters, biochemical changes, chromosomal aberration, and histological evaluation were done.Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan Multiple Range Test at p˂0.05. The results revealed that: i. EECCP contained alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phlobatannins, glycosides, phenolics, steroids, terpenes, flavonoids, iron, sodium, copper, chromium, potassium, manganese, zinc, nickel, magnesium and calcium with alkaloids (5.2mg/ml) and calcium (27.17mg/l) being the highest; ii. the number of life foetuses, survival ratio, corpora lutea and implantation index were significantly reduced (p<0.05) by EECCP whereas the number of dead foetus, rats that aborted, resorption index, pre- and post-implantation increased significantly; iii. EECCP significantly reduced (p< 0.05) the levels of progesterone, oestrogen, prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone; iv. the decrease in liver and kidney aminotransferases activity by EECCP was accompanied by corresponding increase in the serum enzymes; v. EECCP significantly reduced (p<0.05) albumin, total bilirubin, uric acid, total protein, urea, creatinine, glucose, phosphorus, high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the liver, kidney and serum whereas chloride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index increased significantly; vi. EECCP produced increase (p<0.05) in metaphase chromosomal aberration and decreased the mitotic index; vii. EECCP significantly increased malondialdehyde concentrations but reduced significantly (p<0.05) the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities; viii. EECCP significantly reduced the white blood cells, platelet count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume; and ix. there were degeneration of corpus luteum, loss of both the theca external layers and oocytes in the ovary, erosion of endometrium, rupture of blood vessels, shrinkage of nucleus and sinusoidal spaces in the liver as well as vacuolation of the parenchyma in the kidney. The study concluded that EECCP possesses abortifacient activities at the least toxic dose of 400mg/kg body weight. Therefore, EECCP should be further explored for development of abortifacient drug.