Obinna VC, Kagbo HD, Agu GO. Lipophilic and hydrophilic leaf extracts of
Portulaca oleracea (Purslane) disrupts female sex hormones in albino rats (
Rattus norvegicus).
J Tradit Complement Med 2019;
11:82-89. [PMID:
33728266 PMCID:
PMC7936097 DOI:
10.1016/j.jtcme.2019.06.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim
Decoctions and infusions from the aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea Linn., especially the leaves and stems, are used by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria to enhance fertility in humans. The scarcity of literature on the use of this plant for the said purpose as well as its efficacy prompted this research. Study investigated effect of lipophilic and hydrophilic leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea on oestrous cycle, female sex hormones at various phases of oestrous cycle and ovarian and uterine histomorphology in albino rats.
Experimental procedure
Experimental animals were randomly divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group A (control) received 0.5 ml 20% Tween 80 (vehicle), groups B, C & D received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of the lipophilic extract respectively and E, F & G received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of the hydrophilic extract respectively for 21 days. Oestrous cycle was assessed daily. At the end, blood samples (for hormones) and ovarian &uterine sections (histoarchitecture) were collected.
Results and conclusion
Both extracts had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on oestrous cycle, ovarian & uterine histoarchitecture and female sex hormones except at proestrus phase where significant (p < 0.05) decrease in LH and FSH was recorded. P.oleracea as used in this study may have deleterious effect on female reproductive system as shown by the disruption of the hormones at proestrus phase. This can form a basis to refute the use of P.oleracea leaf extracts in enhancing fertility as it has been shown to affect the gonadotropins involved in folliculogenesis.
Leaf extracts of P.oleracea at the doses used in this study decreased the anterior gonadotropins (FSH and LH) only at proestrus.
This shows that the extracts may have affinity for the anterior pituitary which secretes the gonadotropins.
Extracts may have deleterious effect on female reproductive system evidenced by the disruption of the hormones play at proestrus.
The finding can form a basis to refute the use of P.oleracea leaf extracts in enhancing fertility.
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