Effects of lemon juice on the reproductive hormones of female wistar rats (<i>Rattus rattus</i>)

Abstract

Lemon juice has been used by Mediterranean women as their main method of contraception. In the Nigerian traditional society, women of child bearing age are advised against the intake of lemon if they want to conceive because it is believed to have contraceptive effect. This necessitated the investigation of the effect of lemon juice on the reproductive hormones. The study evaluated the effect of lemon juice on the reproductive hormones of female Wistar rats. A range of doses (0.41 g/ml-6.5 g/ml) of freshly prepared lemon juice (Citrus limon) were administered through the intraperitoneal route to 20 female Wistar rats (200-300 g). Acute toxicity tests were carried out using the Arithmetic method of Kaabar. LD₅₀ was determined to be LD₅₀ ip, 2.13 g/ml. Lemon Juice caused statistical dose-dependent reduction in the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from 3.68 ± 0.1 units to 0.6 units and luteinising hormone (LH) from 5.63 units to 1.2 units. However, lemon juice had little or no effect on the levels of the other hormones (estradiol, progesterone and prolactin). The reduction in the levels of these hormones (FSH & LH) suggests a possible mechanism of contraception.

Keywords: Lemon juice, reproductive hormones, female Wistar rats, contraception

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 7 No. 5 (2010)