The study of effect of aqueous Cucurbita pepo linn seed extract on serum prolactin level of lactating female albino rats
Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Medical Science - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 3
Abstract
Prolactin participation has been established for a growing number of physiological actions of these, the best studied is the stimulation of mammary gland development and induction of milk synthesis at the end of pregnancy and during lactation.The study investigated the effect of aqueous Cucurbita pepo Linn seed extract on serum prolactin level of lactating female albino rats. A total of twenty five (25) female healthy wistar albino rats were used for study. They were divided into the following groups as follows: Group 1: Served as control group and received 1ml of distilled water, Group 2: Received Metoclopramide 5mg/kg b w, Group 3: Received 250 mg/kg b w of C. pepo L,Group 4: Received 500 mg/kg b w of C. pepo L. and Group 5: Received 1000 mg/kg b w of C. pepo L. All regimen was given orally once daily for a period of eight (8) days, starting from day 3 to day 11 of lactation. The acute toxicity and phytochemical screening were carried out. The result of acute toxicity studies showed that the aqueous Cucurbita pepo Linn seed extract was safe up to 5000 mg/kg b w. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavanoids and alkaloids. From the results obtained in this study, it was evident that the administration of plant extract at doses of 250,500 and 1000mg/kg b w produced a significantly increased (p<0.0001) prolactin level from 4.90 ± 0.18 in the control group to 26.3 ± 1.60, 26.5 ± 1.60 and 24.9 ± 2.13 in the experimental groups respectively when compared to the control group. However, a maximum increased prolactin concentration was observed in the group that received 500 mg/kg b w of the extract. The values of prolactin levels obtained in the extract treated groups are comparable to the metoclopramide (5mg/kg b w). It can be concluded that elevated level of prolactin as observed in this study justifies the folkloric use of this plant in stimulating lactation and as well as increasing milk production.
Authors and Affiliations
I. S. Malgwi*| Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,Kaduna State, Nigeria., K. V. Olorunshola| Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,Kaduna State, Nigeria., W. O. Hamman| Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,Kaduna State, Nigeria., E. D. Eze| Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP1223
- DOI -
- Views 807
- Downloads 38
Genetic pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma– A review
The prevalence of pheochromcytoma in hypertensive patients is less than 1%.Most PHEOs occur sporadically, but a substantial proportionmay be associated with germ line mutations of genes predisposing to thedevelopment o...
Development potential of pharmaceutical industry in transition countres
Contemporary medicine is striving to bring man closer to the ideal of eternal life. This ideal is, of course, unattainable within the boundaries of currently existing knowledge, but the breakthroughs in extending lif...
Effects of dietary addition of toasted soybean seed meal on libido, semen quality and testis histology of rabbit bucks
The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of toasted soybean seed meal on sexual libido, semen quality and testis histology of rabbit bucks. The experimental rabbits were divided into two treatment groups (BT1 and BT2)...
A comparative histological study on the effect of exposure to the smoke leaf extract of tobacco nicotiana, cannabis sativa and datura stramonium on the lungs of sprague-dawley rats
Smoking may exert compromising effects on several organ systems of the body, but those in the lungs are the most deleterious. Therefore the aim of the present study was to investigate some of the effects of inhalation of...
Prevalence of asthma in the subjects attending multi specialty centre OPD, Ballimaran, Delhi
The burden of Asthma in developing countries such as India isof sufficient magnitude to warrant its recognition as a priority in governmenthealth strategies. Particular resources need to be provided to improve the careof...