Assessment of the Follicle-stimulating Activity of Cissus aralioides on the Vaginal Epithelium of Cavia porcellus

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of an aqueous leaf extract of Cissus aralioides on vaginal epithelial changes in female guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) as an indirect indicator of oestrogenic activity. Sixty female guinea pigs aged 3–4 months and weighing 350–600 g were used after preliminary vaginal cytology confirmed anoestrus. The animals were allocated to four groups receiving distilled water, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, or 600 mg/kg of the aqueous extract by oral gavage for 12 days. Vaginal smears were collected every three days and stained using the Papanicolaou method. The oestrogenic index was calculated as the percentage of superficial keratinised cells among 200 counted cells. Qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of polyphenols, catechin and gallic tannins, flavonoids, quinones and saponins, while alkaloids and sterols/polyterpenes were not detected. Body weight did not change significantly after treatment. On days 9 and 12, the oestrogenic index increased significantly in the 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg groups compared with the control group (p < .05). The highest values were observed at 400 mg/kg, reaching 81 ± 23.3% on day 9 and 77 ± 13.74% on day 12 (p < .05). These findings may suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of C. aralioides induces vaginal epithelial changes that are indirectly compatible with oestrogenic stimulation in guinea pigs, particularly at doses of 400 mg/kg and above. The main limitation of this study is the scarcity of medicinal plants due to deforestation and rapid urbanisation.