Observations with estradiol titre, genitalia and parturition time in female albino rats treated with aqueous <I>Adansonia digitata</I> leaf extract

Abstract

Folkloric claims that Adansonia digitata possess parturition-aiding properties were investigated by treating pre-pubertal female (n=45) and gravid (n=60) albino rats per os with aqueous-leaf-extract. Pre-pubertal rats were equally randomized viz: APP (2 mls distilled-water), BPP (250 mg/kg-extract) and CPP (2 mg/kg Cyclo-progynova®17β estradiol), treated as indicated for 7 days. Gravid rats were similarly randomized viz: A (2 mls distilled-water), B, C and D (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg-extract), respectively, treated daily as indicated from day 19 post-mating, until parturition. Feeds and water were provided ad libitum. Blood was assayed for estradiol, and genitalia harvested, post-euthanization, at 24 hours post-treatment in pre-pubertal rats. Gestation-length, parturition-time, litter-size and birth-weight were evaluated in gravid rats. Differences in mean values of estradiol-titre (pg/ml), reproductive-tract-length (cms), ovarian-weight (grams) and uterine-weight (grams) for BPP (9.44±0.88, 5.40±0.38, 0.08±0.01, 0.24±0.03,) and CPP (10.56±0.41, 5.00±0.42, 0.10±0.03, 0.25±0.04) were higher (P˂0.05) than for APP (3.82±0.48, 3.66±3.95, 0.03±0.01, 0.14±0.03), respectively. Differences in mean parturition-time (minutes) for A (88.6±2.73), B (81.2±4.06) and C (78.6±3.14) were higher (P<0.05) than for D (63.4±9.30). Differences in other parameters were not significant. Findings indicate that aqueous Adansonia digitata leaf-extract increased estradiol-titre and genitalia but shortened parturition-time in albino rats. Increased estradiol-titre possibly accounted for shortened parturition-time.

Keywords: Estradiol-titre; Genitalia; Parturition-time; Adansonia digitata leaf-extract; Albino rats.