Agbai Emmanuel Onuka

This present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of ricinus communis ethanol extract on serum prolactin, LH and FSH levels in bromocriptine-induced hypoprolactinemia in female albino rats. A total of thirty female albino rats divided into 5 groups (Groups I, II, III, IV and V) consisting of 6 rats in each group were used for the study. Group I served as Control, while II, III, IV and V served as experimental groups. The experimental groups received 10mg/kg of bromocriptine orally at interval of 6 hours daily for 4 weeks. Groups III, IV and V were given respectively 200mg/kg/day, 500mg/kg/day and 900mg/kg/day of ricinus communis orally for 4 weeks. Group I received distilled water and normal rat chow. Results showed statistically significant decrease in prolactin level (P < 0.05) in rats treated with ricinus communis extract. There was statistically significant increase in serum LH and FSH levels (P < 0.05) in rats treated with ricinus communis extract. The present study suggested that ricinus communis extract in a dose related pattern significantly lowered serum prolactin level but caused a significant increase serum LH and FSH levels respectively in bromocriptine induced hypoprolactinemia in female rats.

The effect of 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg of ethanol extract of ricinus communis extract on reproductive hormone: estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH was investigated using virgin female albino wistar rats. The results showed that at lower doses ricinus communis extract caused a decrease in estrogen, progesterone and LH levels at P < 0.05, but at high dose of 500mg/kg it caused an increase in estrogen, progesterone levels at P < 0.05. The extract did not have significant effect on FSH at P > 0.05.  Data suggested that the extract increased the hormones in a dose-dependent fashion.     Keywords. Ricinus communis. progesterone. estrogen. luteinizing hormone. follicle stimulating hormone.      

This present study was undertaken to determine the effects of ricinus communis ethanol extract on serum prolactin and gonadotrophin levels after administering 10mg/kg (body weight) of metoclopramide in female albino rats. A total of thirty female albino rats divided into 5 groups (Groups I, II, III, IV and V) consisting of 6 rats in each group were used for the study. Group I served as Control, while II, III, IV and V served as experimental groups. The experimental groups received 10mg/kg of metoclopramide (i.v.) 4 times daily for 4 weeks. Groups III, IV and V were given respectively 200mg/kg/day, 500mg/kg/day and 900mg/kg/day of ricinus communis orally for 4 weeks. Group I received distilled water and normal rat chow. Results showed statistically significant decrease in prolactin level at P < 0.05 between Group I (13.38 ± 0.92 ng/ml), III (18.73 ± 4.78 ng/ml), IV (17.53 ± 3.33 ng/ml) and V (16.95 ± 1.20 ng/ml) compared to Group II  (44.70 ± 2.77 ng/ml). There was statistically significant increase in serum LH level between Group I (CONT) (7.07 ± 0.71 mIu/ml), Group III (7.82 ± 0.88 mIu/ml), Group IV (8.44 ± 0.53 mIu/ml) and Group V (8.88 ± 0.72 mIu/ml) at P < 0.05 compared to Group II (6.42 ± 1.14 mIu/ml) at P < 0.05. There was also statistically significant increase in serum FSH level between Group III (6.71 ± 1.46 mIu/ml), Group IV (6.84 ± 0.59 mIu/ml), and Group V (7.87 ± 0.41 mIu/ml) at P < 0.05 compared Group I (CONT) (5.20 ± 0.9 mIu/ml) compared to Group II (4.85 ± 0.70 mIu/ml). Data suggested that ricinus communis extract reduced serum prolactin levels and increased serum LH and FSH levels respectively in metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemic female rats. Keywords. ricinus communis. hyperprolactinemia. prolactin. luteinizing hormone. follicle stimulating hormone. metoclopramide.

The effect of Nigerian dietary vegetable mixtures composed of Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum gratissimum, Gongronema latifolium, Solanum melongena, Phyllanthus amarus, and Piper nigrumas acclaimed as potent anti-hyperglycaemic agents were evaluated in accordance with local finished medicine products and practices in alloxan-induced diabetic guinea pigs. Blood glucose level analysis was used as diabetic indices. Taken together, the results of the present study, suggests that the strong cooperative additive/synergistic effects of the dietary vegetable mixtures (50/50/50) significantly (p