Reproductive Function Evaluation in Female Wistar Rats Treated with Aqueous leaf Extract of Cissusaralioides

ABSTRACT: Background: Medicinal plants are increasingly getting recognition. Cissus aralioides is a lofty climber belonging to the family of Vitaceae and widely distributed in South-Eastern region of Nigeria. Varied therapeutic benefits as well as well health harming effects have been reported about the plant. This study evaluated the effects of aqueous extract of Cissus aralioides leaf on reproductive functions in female Wistar rats.Methods: 72 adult female Wistar rats weighing between 110-180/g were used for the study. The animals were randomly grouped into 6 groups of twelve rats each (n=12). Groups 1 and 2 served as control while groups 3 to 6 were the experimental groups and were administered (100/mg, 200/mg, 300/mg and 500/mg)/kg of the extract respectively for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and centrifuged to obtain the serum for biochemical analysis for Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Estrogen and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Data were analyzed using the SPSS package and expressed as mean± SEM and ANOVA.Results: There was significant body weight reduction across groups administered with the extract. Also, there were significant decrease in estrogen level in groups that received 300/mg/kg and 500/mg/kg when compared with the control groups, a similar decrease was not observed with LH and FSH across the groups.Conclusion: Observations from this study shows that aqueous leaf extract of Cissus aralioides decreases circulating levels of estrogen in female Wistar rats.