ricinus communis. hyperprolactinemia. prolactin. luteinizing hormone. follicle stimulating hormone. metoclopramide.

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.