Effects of ethanolic extract of Rhynchosia sublobata (Schumach) Meikle on estrous cycle in Wistar rats.docVIP

Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, ISSN 2249 – 4340 RESEARCH ARTICLE Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 122-127, September 2011 Effects of ethanolic extract of Rhynchosia sublobata (Schumach) Meikle on estrous cycle in Wistar rats 1* 2 3 3 4 A.R. MUSTAPHA , E.K. BAWA , D. OGWU , U.S. ABDULLAHI , A.A. KAIKABO , S.S. DIARRA5 1 Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B.1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. 2 3 4 5 National Animal Production Research Institute, P.M.B. 1069, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria. Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Zaria, Nigeria. National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B.-01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. Department of Animal Science, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B.1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Article History: Received 4 September 2011, Revised 14 September 2011, Accepted 14 September 2011. th th th Abstract: The effect of Rhynchosia sublobata aqueous leaf extracts on female reproductive cycle was studied in sixteen (N=16) sexually matured female wistar strain rats with regular estrous cycle. Rats were randomly divided into four (4) groups of four (n=4) rats per group. The experimental groups were treated as follows: Group I treated with 5000mg/kg, Group II with 2500mg/kg and Group III with 1000mg/kg of the aqueous Rhynchosia sublobata leaf extract and Group IV (control) received no treatment. The estrous cycle changes were determined by daily observation of vaginal smear. There was an increase in the percentage of rats going into prolong proestrus and estrus phases of the estrous cycle with a cor- responding decrease in the phases of metestrus and diestrus in all treated groups. The increase in the duration of the two phases of the cycle has a dose dependent response. Treatment with the highest dose 5