Portulaca oleracea shows no ameliorative potential on ovariectomy-induced hormonal and estrous cycle dysregulation in normal cyclic rats: An experimental study

• Published in: International journal of reproductive biomedicine (Yazd, Iran) Iran), 2021-10, Vol.19 (10), p.899-908
• Main Authors: Okafor, Izuchukwu Azuka, Okafor, Uchenna Somtochukwu, Ndukwe, Victor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Female reproductive system; Flowers & plants; Herbal medicine; Hormones; Infertility; Oophorectomy; Original; portulaca oleracea, wistar rat, ovariectomy, estrous cycle, hormones; Rodents
• ISSN: 2476-4108; 2476-3772
• DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v19i10.9822

(PO) is a widely known plant utilized for its medicinal attributes in the treatment of different illnesses. To investigate the effect of methanolic extract of PO (MEPO) on ovariectomy-induced reproductive toxicity in normal cyclic rats. Twenty 10-wk-old normal cyclic rats weighing 110-200 g were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5/group). Group A served as the control and received distilled water only. Group B was ovariectomized without treatment, while groups C and D were ovariectomized but treated with 400 and 800 mg/kg of MEPO, respectively, for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, body weight, serum hormonal levels, and estrous cycles were monitored across the groups. Groups B, C, and D showed estrous cycle dysregulation and specific phase arrest when compared with the control. While a significant decrease in estradiol (p 0.001) and testosterone levels (p 0.001) were observed in groups B, C, and D, only groups C and D showed a significant increase in progesterone level when compared with the control (p 0.001, p = 0.01, respectively). The administration of 400 and 800 mg/kg MEPO is ineffective in ameliorating estrous cycle disruption and hormonal changes seen in ovariectomized normal cyclic adult Wistar rats.