Toxicity of Xylopia aethiopica fruit extract: An estrous cycle and histological study

Xylopia aethiopica is commonly used in central and west Africa to treat various ailments and as food additives with the highest consumption rate among women. The study evaluated the effects of Xylopia aethiopica fruit extract (XAFE) on estrous cycle duration and the histology of kidney, liver, uterine horn, and ovaries in Wistar rats. Thirty-five female rats were used for the study (15 for estrous cycle and 28-day repeated toxicity). In the estrous cycle study, the rats were allocated into three groups (n=5) and received distilled water, and XAFE at 100mg/kg & 300mg/kg respectively for 28 days. The estrous cycle of each rat was evaluated from the vaginal fluid daily. For the 28-day repeated toxicity, twenty rats were distributed into four groups (n=5) and received distilled water, and XAFE at 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, and 300mg/kg respectively for 28 days. All the rats were euthanized afterward. The uterine horns, ovaries, kidneys and livers were dissected and processed for light microscopy. Treatment with XAFE significantly increased estrous cycle duration (7.18±0.17 & 7.22±0.24) relative to the control (5.40±0.10). The ovary of rats treated with XAFE at 300mg/kg and 200mg/kg showed degenerating follicles and mild distortion of the endometrial epithelium respectively. Pyknosis and mild renal tubular distortion were observed in the liver and kidney respectively of rats treated with 300mg/kg XAFE. In conclusion, prolonged consumption of XAFE alters the development of ovarian follicles thereby prolonging estrous cycle duration. This could lead to infertility in females by delaying or preventing conception.

Key Words: Estrous cycle, follicles, Xylopia aethiopica, ovaries, uterine horn