Ameliorative Effect of Ethanoic Extract of Vernonia amygdalina (Del) Leaves on Reproductive Functions of Letrozole-induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder known by symptoms such as hyperandrogenism, amenorrhea, and polycystic ovaries. Being an endocrine disorder, its associated with metabolic dysfunction of the endocrine gland which results to an imbalance of the sex hormones which include reduced level of follicle stimulating hormone and progesterone increased level of luteinizing hormone, Insulin and testosterone which causes cyst to form in the antral ovarian follicle. Among the various reference drugs used in the treatment of PCOS combination of metformin with clomiphene citrate used in this study, has shown to exhibit a good therapeutic effect in the management of PCOS. Ethnomedicine such as Parquetina nigrescens leaves, Aspargus Racemosus, Tinospora Cordifolia etc. have been reported to contain phytocompounds which showed therapeutic effect in annulling the comorbidities associated with PCOS. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorative effect of ethanoic extracts of V. amygdalina leaves on reproductive and metabolic dysfunctions associated with letrozoleinduced PCOS in female Wistar rats. The effects of ethanoic extract of V. amygdalina leaves (EEVAL) on reproductive hormones, at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight on PCOS-induced by letrozole was evaluated in female Wistar rats as well as their lipid profile. Twenty female Wistar rats (170.81 ±5.00g) were completely randomized into 5 groups (A - E) of 4 each. The animals in group A received 0.5 ml of distilled water orally on daily basis for 21 days while the letrozole rats in groups B, C, D and E also received orally 0.5 ml of distilled water, 7.14mg/kg of metformin and 2mg/kg clomiphene citrate (reference drugs) and different volume of the extract conforming to 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of EEVAL respectively. The administration of EEVAL at 100 mg/kg B.W. to PCOS significantly (p<0.05) increased serum FSH and progesterone concentration, as well as HDL-C concentration when compared to the control group. It ameliorated PCOS-induced elevated serum LH, Insulin and Testosterone concentration and as well as TG, TC and LDL-C in the female rats. In conclusion, the ethanoic extract of V. amygdalina leaves has ameliorative effects on letrozole-induced reproductive and metabolic dysfunctions associated with PCOS rats, therefore it can be explored in the management of PCOS.