Effect of different extracts and fractions of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. &Hiern) J. Moore on in vivo and in vitro parameters of folliculogenesis in experimental animals.

BACKGROUND: Senecio biafrae is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine to cure female infertility. Some effects have been pharmacologically demonstrated on immature female rats but in vivo and in vitro investigations are still necessary for determining its mechanism of action. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the estrogenic and FSH-like effects of the plant extracts and fractions on some fertility parameters in immature female rats and on in vitro survival and growth of swine preantral follicles. METHODS: 21-23 days old female Wistar rats orally received extracts and fractions of S. biafrae at 0, 8 and 64 mg/kg doses over 20 days. The LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone serum levels were evaluated as well as the ovarian cholesterol, uterus and ovaries masses and proteins. The numbers of follicles at different developmental stages were recorded in ovarian cortexes after histology. Slices of swine ovarian cortexes were cultured along 1 or 7 days in alpha-minimum essential medium (α-MEM) and fixed for morphological analysis of preantral follicles. The fresh control, cultured control (CIV control) and different Senecio biafrae-treated ovarian fragments were analyzed for preantral follicles development. Treatments that showed the best follicle growth in culture were submitted to AgNOR test. The aqueous and MeOH/CH2Cl2 extracts as well as the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions of S. biafrae were submitted to the HPLC for analysis of polyphenolic secondary metabolites. RESULTS: Ovarian and uterine proteins were significantly high (p < 0.01) in animals treated with the two dosages of ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The same result was recorded with uterine proteins in animals treated with the hexane fraction. The FSH level significantly dropped with all ethanolic extract doses and with the 64 mg/kg dosage of the methanol/methylene chloride (MeOH/CH2Cl2) extract while LH was reduced (p < 0.01) in almost all the treated groups. Estradiol level was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the extracts, but reduced (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the fractions of the plant. The progesterone level increased with almost all the treated groups. Primary and secondary follicles augmented (p < 0.01) in MeOH/CH2Cl2 extract and n-butanol fraction while tertiary follicles increased with the same extract and the ethyl acetate fraction (p < 0.05). Treatments with aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as ethyl acetate fraction led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of morphologically normal follicles after 7 days of culture as compared to the CIV control. The number of AgNOR dots per follicle was significantly low (p < 0.05) in all cultured groups as compared to the fresh control, except the ethyl acetate 2.8 ng/ml dosage. The same observation was done with AgNOR dots per cell in the 2.8 ng/ml dosage aqueous extract-treated fragments. The phenolic compounds mainly encountered in the plant, independently of the extract or fraction are apigenin, eugenol and rutin. CONCLUSION: Extracts and fractions of S. biafrae have an important FSH-like effect which induces follicular survival and growth.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for pregnant women׳s health conditions in Menoua division-West Cameroon.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Cameroon, most women use traditional medicine for the treatment of pregnancy and childbirth complaints. In order to identify some of the medicinal plants locally used to alleviate these complaints, an ethnobotanical survey was undertaken in five villages of Menoua Division (West-Cameroon). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interviews were conducted through structured questionnaires among 24 traditional healers and 179 women living either in the town of Dschang or in 4 neighboring villages. After having recorded the interviewee personal information on issues related to medicinal plants utilization, a literature investigation on their therapeutic or pharmacological effects and phytochemical composition was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 88 medicinal plants species used to treat 24 conditions occurring during or after pregnancy and belonging to 70 genera or 34 families were recorded. Maximum medicinal uses of plants are reported for the treatment of the following ailments: swelling of legs and ankles (23%), facilitation of delivery (22%), cleaning of the baby (12%). Most herbal remedies are prepared with the leaves (30%), leaves+stems (28%) and whole plant (23%) as maceration (76%). The majority of women who used medicinal plants were very satisfied (75 %) and it is reported that most of these plants are used in the treatment of women health conditions. CONCLUSION: Many herbal remedies used for the treatment of pregnant women׳s health conditions in Menoua division-West Cameroon have been revealed. It would therefore be judicious for our government and research institution to evaluate the therapeutic and toxicological potentials of these plants in order to valorize their use.

Effect of the aqueous extract of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. & Hiern) J. Moore on some fertility parameters in immature female rat.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Senecio biafrae is a plant from the huge family of Asteraceae used in the African pharmacopoeia for the treatment of many ailments among which is infertility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aqueous extract, which was primarily subjected to polyphenol analysis, has been administered to immature female rats for 20 days at 8, 32, 64 and 128 mg/kg of body weight. The day following the treatment, the animals were sacrificed; their serum, ovary and uterus were retained respectively for reproductive hormones, ovarian and uterine proteins, and ovarian cholesterol assays. RESULTS: Light body weight gain variation of treated animals was observed during the experimental period. A significant increase (p ˂ 0.05) in serum estradiol and proteins as well as in uterine weight (p ˂ 0.01) of all Senecio biafrae treated animals was noted. No significant variation was noticed in the ovarian weight and follicle numbers. CONCLUSION: The various biochemical and physiological parameters of fertility were significantly improved with the aqueous extract of Senecio biafrae, thus attesting some of its traditional usage.

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used for the treatment of female infertility in Baham, Cameroon.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Infertility affects many women in Cameroon, with a rate of about 25%. This study aimed at collecting and documenting information on herbal remedies traditionally used for the treatment of women infertility in Baham subdivision (Western Region of Cameroon). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fieldwork was undertaken as an ethnopharmacological survey involving thirty-two traditional medicine practitioners interviewed in 8 villages of the Baham sub-division. Personal information on interviewees as well as issues related to medicinal use of plants were recorded using structured questionnaires. A literature investigation on the therapeutic or pharmacological properties of recorded medicinal plants was further undertaken. RESULTS: From this inventory, a total of 46 plant species belonging to 43 genera and 26 families have been registered. These plants are used in 32 recipes and prepared as maceration (43%) or decoction (40%) of only one plant (25%) or of the mixture of two (22%), three (28%), four (22%) or even seven (3%) medicinal plants. Globally, they are given orally during 30 days, at an average dosage of two glasses per day. The literature confirms the use of the majority of these plants for the treatment of the woman infertility and illnesses that are associated to it. CONCLUSION: This research shows that traditional healers of the Baham subdivision use various recipes of medicinal plants for the treatment of female infertility. The valorization of this potential could be important for the conservation of these plants and the improvement of women reproductive health.

Inductive effect of the leaf mixture extract of Aloe buettneri, Justicia insularis, Dicliptera verticillata and Hibiscus macranthus on in vitro production of estradiol.

In the course of a preliminary clarification of the mechanisms of the leaf mixture extract of Aloe buettneri, Justicia insularis, Dicliptera verticillata and Hibiscus macranthus, locally used to regulate the menstrual cycle and to treat dysmenorrhea or cases of infertility in women, pieces of proestrus rat ovary were incubated in the presence of increasing concentration of the plant extract and/or human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). The in vitro production of estradiol and progesterone by ovarian cells of proestrus rat was significantly increased in the presence of various concentration of hCG (P < 0.05). The different concentration of the plant extract increased the production of estradiol by twofold. In addition, the in vitro production of estradiol by ovarian cells increased by 13-fold when they were incubated with hCG (0.1 IU/ml) and a concentration of 130 microg/ml of the plant extract. These results clearly attest the direct effects of some chemical components of the leaf mixture of the plants on ovarian steroidogenesis.

Oestrogenicity and effect on hepatic metabolism of the aqueous extract of the leaf mixture of Aloe buettneri, Dicliptera verticillata, Hibiscus macranthus and Justicia insularis.

The aqueous extract of the leaf mixtures of Aloe buettneri, Dicliptera verticillata, Hibiscus macranthus and Justicia insularis given by oral route to immature female rats, at doses of 13, 49 and 94 mg/kg per day for 15 days induced a significant increase in ovarian and uteri weight as well as serum and ovarian oestradiol. Moreover, a significant decrease in liver of aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was noticed in treated animals.

Effects of an aqueous extract of Aloe buettneri, Justicia insularis, Hibiscus macranthus, Dicliptera verticillata on some physiological and biochemical parameters of reproduction in immature female rats.

Different doses of aqueous extracts from the leaves of Aloe buettneri, Justicia insularis, Hibiscus macranthus and Dicliptera verticillata, locally used to regulate the menstrual cycle and to treat dysmenorrhea or infertility in women, were given daily to 22 day old rats for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days by gastric intubation. At the end of each experimental period, the weights of ovaries and uteri, levels of uterine and ovarian proteins, ovarian cholesterol and serum oestradiol were evaluated. The results showed a decrease in growth rate of animals treated with 94 mg/kg per day at the end of the experimental period. The ovarian and uterine weights were high in all treated groups especially within the pubertal period (36-41 days old) when compared to the respective controls. During the same period, the parameters analysed showed significant differences in treated rats when compared to the controls. This was seen with ovarian and uterine protein levels, as well as with serum oestradiol whose level was especially high in the groups given 49 or 94 mg/kg per day of the plant extracts (52 and 42%, respectively when compared with the respective controls). A concomitant decrease in ovarian cholesterol was observed in the same treated groups. These results suggested a possible presence of oestrogenic compounds in the plant extracts.