Assessment of Several Concentrations of Aqueous Extract of Croton Lobactus(Linn) on Reproductive Parameters of Wistar Rats

Abstract

The plant, Croton lobatus (Euphobaceae) is grown for many purposes, it
is used as a remedy for women with reproductive issues. The goal of this
experiment is to verify the consequence of C. lobatus on some
reproductive parameters and leitters of matured female wistar rats. Eighty
female rats were separated into 16 groups of 5 rats each and another
group containing 5 male rats was used for mating the female rats. Group
1 received distilled water; other groups received 200, 400 and 1000
mg/kg/ wt/day orally for a period of 21 days respectively. During the 21
days of administration, the body weight and vaginal smear were taken
and recorded every seven days and every day respectively, only animals
on pro-estrus phase were either anesthetized or mated. Fertility
parameters such as pregnancy outcomes, leuthenizing hormones (LH),
follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) and Estrogen-2hormones (E-2),
were observed and recorded. The results obtained revealed a considerable
rise in body weight in all extract treated groups when linked with the
control, with a significant increase in weight of generative organs which
were dose dependent. Hormonal levels at the estrus phase were observed
to be significantly elevated in LH, E-2 and FSH. Hematological
assessments of gravid rats were done using standard procedures. The
study revealed that the plant extract was safe at 200, 400 and 1000
mg/kg/wt. The hematological studies, showed a significant increase in
the number of white and red blood cells. The gross examination of
leitters revealed that the plant is safe in pregnancy, indicating that C.
lobactus leaves favoured reproductive parameters.