Fertility Enhancing Potential of Mucuna pruriens Seeds in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Aims: To determine the effect of oral administration of methanolic seed extract of Mucuna pruriens (M. pruriens) on oestrous cycle, ovulation, reproductive hormones and oxidative stress in the ovary of cyclic Sprague-Dawley rats. Design: Prospective animal study related to M. pruriens in reproductive area. Place and Duration: Animal Facility of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Nigeria between the months of June 2012 and August, 2012. Methodology: Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats with regular 4 days cycle averagely weighing 145 g were used. Methanolic extract of M. pruriens was given orally at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Oestrous cycle was monitored daily. At the end of the experiment animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Oocytes were counted, blood and ovaries were assayed for hormonal and biochemical studies respectively. Results: Oestrous cycle remained unchanged in the treatment groups. Catalase and superoxide dismutase levels were increased slightly compared to control. A dose dependent increase in FSH and LH (p < 0.05 at 200 mg/kg) levels were observed with an increase in the number of oocytes released at ovulation compared to control. Conclusion: M. pruriens seed extract has the potential to enhance fertility by increasing serum levels of FSH and LH which in turn increases the number of oocytes released at ovulation possibly through its antioxidant properties.