Endocrine Abstracts

The leaves and seeds of Buchholzia coriacea (BC) are known to have antimalarial effect. Many antibiotic and antimalarial agents are known to have antifertility actions. This study was designed to investigate the effect of the aqueous seed extract of buccholzia coriacea on fertility parameters in female rats. Forty regularly cycling rats were randomly divided into two equal groups: BC-treated group (BCT group) received aqueous extract of the seed (200 mg/kg) and the control group (CT group) received equal volume of distilled water as the vehicle. The estrous cycle was monitored throughout the six weeks of administration and blood samples were collected for hormonal analysis at various phases of the cycle. At the end of this period, organs were collected for oxidative studies. The oviduct of rats in the estrous phase was harvested for ova count. Results showed distorted and significantly reduced number of cycles in the BCT group and also a significantly increased frequency of occurrence of the metestrous phase. The number of ova released at ovulation was significantly decreased in the BCT group (2.60±0.24), compared to the CT group (5.80±0.37). FSH level was significantly reduced during the proestrous phase in BCT group (117.66±2.47 ng/ml) compared to the CT group (138.20±2.05 ng/ml) and estrous phase (BCT group - 34.70±2.25 ng/ml; CT group - 58.50±2.05 ng/ml;). There was a significant increase in GSH (31.57±1.33 μmol/ml), SOD (39.83±1.39 μmol/ml) and CAT (659.48±6.61 μmol/ml) in BCT group compared to the control GSH (19.5±1.14 μmol/ml), SOD (56.9±2.19 μmol/ml) and CAT (563.13±12.9 μmol/ml). However, the MDA was significantly reduced in BCT group (91.56±0.22 μmol/ml) compared to the control (2.4±0.19 μmol/ml). Thus, this study showed that the aqueous seed of the Buccholzia coriacea has antioxidative properties but possesses antifertility effects.