Reproductive Effect of Different Doses of Ethanolic Stem-Bark Extract of Prosopis Africana on the Ovary of Wistar Rat

The usefulness of Prosopis africana in many parts of Africa is diverse and its therapeutic uses are well known. Theaims of the study is to determine the effect of varying doses of ethanolic stem-bark extract ofProsopis africana on the ovary of wistar rats, with the objective on histology and hormone profiles. Twenty-five adult female Wistar rats with an average weight of 100 – 200, were used. Prosopis africana extracts were administered for a period of two (3) weeks, with five (5) rats per group. Group 1 (control), received rat pellets and distilled water. Group 2 received 3000mg/kg. Group 3 received 2000mg/kg of Prosopis africana extract. Group 4 received 1000mg/kg of Prosopis africana extract. Group 5 received 500mg/kg of Prosopis africana extract orally. Twenty-four hoursafter the last administration, the animals were weighed, sedated with diethyl-ether and blood was collected. The blood was collected then ovaries were located, removed and weighed using an electronic sensitive analytical balance.The results were statistically significant p>0.05 and at high dose greater than 1000mg/kg the ovarian histology exhibited degenerative changes in the ovarian cortex; hemorrhage in between primary follicles was observed when compared with control group. While the histology for the lower doses especially that of 1000mg/kg showed better qualities. Conclusively, Prosopis africana ethanolic stem-bark extract improves fertility at a most preferable dose of 1000mg/kg.

Key Words: Degenerative, Hemorrhage, Multilaminar, Prosopia-africana