Ficus platyphylla promotes fertility in female Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Ficus platyphylla Delile (family-Moracea) commonly called gutta percha tree is a deciduous plant found in savannah areas. It grows widely in the Northern part of Nigeria, up to 60 ft. high and is known as 'gamji' by the Hausas. The seeds, bark and leaves have been used traditionally in combination to promote fertility. Scientifically, the plant has been shown to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and CNS effects. The present study was to validate the use of this plant to promote fertility in female Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain using various fertility parameters. METHODS: Female Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain weighing between 150-180 g were randomly selected and divided into two major groups. Each group was subdivided into 5 treatment groups of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg BW of aqueous extract of F. platyphylla and a control group of 5 ml/kg of distilled water. A positive control of clomiphene citrate was used. Treatment of the first group was discontinued after 15 days prior to mating (pre-mating treatment group), while the other was treated continuously till delivery (continuous treatment group). At the 10th day, females were sacrificed and implantation sites were checked and embryos counted. Upon delivery, litter sizes were determined and the pups weighed and checked for deformities. Other reproductive indices were calculated. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and students T-test. Proportions were analysed by Chi square. Statistical evaluations were performed using STATS programs and Graphpad prism, and a difference was considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the percentage post implantation losses of both the pre-treatment and the continuous treatment groups when compared to their distil water controls. The litter size of the pre-treatment group was similar to the distil water group while at 400 mg/kg, the continuous treatment group showed an increase in the litter size similar to that of the clomiphene group. There were no observed external deformities in the pups. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of aqueous extract of F. platyphylla promotes fertility by reducing post implantation loss and by increasing litter size in female Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain.

Evaluation of the antiulcer activity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Balanites aegyptiaca L Delile in Wistar rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Balanites aegyptiaca L. Delile (Zygophyllaceae) is a perennial tree that is mostly found in Africa, south Asia and most desert environments. Decoctions of its stem barks are used in northern Nigeria for the treatment of ulcers and stomach issues. Other folkloric uses include treatment of wounds, malaria, dysentery, asthma, and fever. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study evaluated the antiulcer activity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Balanites aegyptiaca in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antiulcer activity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Balanites aegyptiaca (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated in ethanol, indomethacin, pylorus ligation and acetic acid-induced ulcer models in rats. Parameters such as mean ulcer indices and percentage ulcer inhibition were assessed in ethanol, indomethacin and acetic acid-induced ulcer models while gastric volume, pH, and titratable acidity were evaluated in the pylorus ligation ulcer model. RESULTS: The extract at the doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg caused a significant (p < 0.01), dose dependent reduction in mean ulcer indices in the ethanol and indomethacin ulcer models. A significant dose dependent reduction in mean ulcer indices were also observed after three (p < 0.01) and seven (p < 0.001) days of treatment with the extract in acetic acid-induced ulcer model. In pylorus ligation model, the gastric secretion parameters (gastric volume, pH, and titratable acidity) showed no alteration in the different doses of the extract when compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the aqueous stem bark extract of Balanites aegyptiaca possesses gastroprotective and ulcer healing properties and therefore not only provides scientific evidence for its folkloric use in the treatment of ulcers but also showed evidence that it may be used in the development of a new phytotherapeutic formulation for the treatment of peptic ulcer.