摘要
Background: The traditional culture of eating wood-ash extracts in some countries has led to many health problems.The study assessed the anti-fertility effects of the aqueous wood-ash extract of Parkia biglobosa on female Swissalbino mice. Methods: Healthy female albino mice were procured and randomly grouped into four groups (5/group)where control, 5, 50 and 100 mg/kg doses of the extract were orally administered for 20 days and microscopy ofvaginal smear carried out daily to determine anti-ovulatory activity. Oestrus cycle, including metestrus, diestrus andoestrus phases and histopathology of the uterus were examined daily and at the termination of the experiment.Results: At the end of the study, the highest number of circles (4.80 ± 0.20) was recorded in the control group,administered distilled water, while the lowest number of circles (3.00 ± 0.32) was in the 100 mg/kg dose group.Oestrus (5.80 ± 0.37) also is highest in the control group and lowest (1.20 ± 0.37) in the 100 mg/kg dose group. Thegroup administered 100 mg/kg dose of the aqueous wood-ash extract of Parkia biglobosa had the highest diestrusindex of 45, while the lowest of 17 was obtained in the control group. Histopathology of the uterus tissues shows afew degenerate epithelial cells in 50 mg/kg group and moderate dilatation of lumen and glandular epithelial cells in100 mg/kg group. Conclusion: The study revealed dose-dependent anti-fertility effects of the aqueous wood-ashextract of Parkia biglobosa on female albino mice, which implies its potential reproductive toxicity in humans.
