EFFECT OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF Sida cuneifolia ROOTS

Abstract

The importance of plant extracts in mammalian reproductive physiology has not been fully studied. This study therefore determined the effects of Sida cuneifolia root extracts on the reproductive systems of albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Thirty six female and thirty six male rats weighing an average of 102g and of proven fertility were utilized in the investigation. They were kept in cages, at three per cage, fed with mice pellets and given distilled water as drinking water ad libitum. The animals were maintained at 12:12 light/dark cycle. Screening experiments were first carried out using crude water extracts of roots from the plant, given in drinking water to the animals. When the antifertility activity of the plant extract was established, then the investigation proceeded. Nine female and nine male rats were given 10g/L of the root extracts in their drinking water, while nine control females and nine control males rats were given plain distilled water. Vaginal smears from treated and control rats were taken and examined daily for three weeks, in order to establish cyclicity. Vaginal smears taken from treated rats showed a marked decrease in the number of epithelial cells of the superficial type (usually an indicator of fertility) on the day of expected oestrus. Smears from control rats showed vaginal cell morphology characteristic of normal oestrus cycles. Mating experiments were then conducted first between treated females and untreated males, treated males and untreated females and finally between treated males and treated females. As a control, the untreated male and untreated females were also mated. All mating experiments conducted using males and females were executed in triplicates. Pregnancy failed in the treated rats whereas control animals had litter normally Data were analysed by Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA).Weights of ovaries and testes were also taken. Uterine, vaginal and ovarian tissue histology of female rats was examined while in male rats, histology of the testes was examined. In all groups the treated rats were compared with controls. A reduction in the weights of uteri and ovaries was observed in the treated animals unlike the controls. Sections of reproductive organs from treated female rats showed features characteristic of dioestrous and anoestrous, (infertile phases), as compared to controls. Male rats which had been subjected to the extract failed to sire offspring throughout the duration of the research. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the weights of ovaries in female rats and testes in male rats. Sections from the gonads showed marked degeneration of germ layers, associated tissues and a significant decrease in spermatozoa in epidydimia. The extracts were characterised by mass spectroscopy. The extracts altered cyclicity, gonadal histology and reduced the weights of the testes.