Castor oil induces morphological changes in endometrium and biochemical parameters in pregnant Wistar rats
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Association of Medical Doctors in Academics
Abstract
Background: Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue,
used for the management of miscarriages and labour. Castor oil is a
natural plant extract that has been reported to have some abortifacient
Properties
Objectives: This study investigated the labour induction and abortifacient
properties of castor oil, as well as possible effects on the electrolytes
and hormones that regulate pregnancy, as well as to compare these
effects with a standard labour inducing drug misoprostol, in Wistar rats.
Methods: The study was conducted out in 2 phases. The pregnant rats
were administered varying Castor oil doses of low (12.4ml/kg), medium
(18.6ml/kg) and high (24.8ml/kg), which were compared with misoprostol
group as well as a control group. All animals were euthanized on gestational
day 15 and day 20 respectively for the two phases and blood samples
collected via cardiac puncture from the apex of the heart for hormonal
assay, electrolyte and kidney function tests. The uterus was also removed
for histological processing.
Results: The abortifacient effect of castor oil is dose dependent with high
dose castor oil group seen to have significantly reduced serum progesterone
level (32.8±4.25 and 40.8±0.70 compared with 51.0±2.00 of controls),
resulted in weight loss and interference with kidney function (increase in
serum potassium while decrease in sodium electrolytes). Castor oil also
exhibited labor inducing properties.
Conclusion: Castor oil has the potential to induce abortion. This study
has demonstrated a possible usage of castor oil in medical induction of
labor in rats as it exerted uterotonic principle on the uterus.
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Citation
Kadir E.R., Ibrahim A., Imam A., Onigbolabi O.G. & Imam A. A., Ajao M.S. (2021). Castor oil induces morphological changes in endometrium and biochemical parameters in pregnant Wistar rats. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences. 1(1): 1-6. Published by Association of Medical Doctors in Academics. Available online at https://njbams.asmeda.org.ng/view_volume.php?volume=1&issue=1&year=2021