Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv (Cecropiaceae) Extracts Accelerates Sexual Maturation, and Increases Fertility Index and Gestational Rate in Female Wistar Rats
Charline Florence Awounfack,
Marie Alfrede Mvondo,
Stéphane Zingue,
Sylvin Benjamin Ateba,
Sefirin Djiogue,
Rosette Megnekou,
Derek Tantoh Ndinteh,
Dieudonné Njamen
Affiliations
Charline Florence Awounfack
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Marie Alfrede Mvondo
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon
Stéphane Zingue
Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 55, Maroua, Cameroon
Sylvin Benjamin Ateba
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Sefirin Djiogue
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Rosette Megnekou
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Derek Tantoh Ndinteh
Department of applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Gauteng, South Africa
Dieudonné Njamen
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Background: Despite the wide use of leaves of Myrianthus arboreus (Cecropiaceae) in several African countries including Cameroon as food and against amenorrhea and female infertility, it has never been tested for this purpose. Methods: Using immature female Wistar rats, the impact of M. arboreus on the sexual maturation parameters (vaginal opening, ovarian relative weight and follicle maturation, gonadotropins and ovarian hormones serum levels) and fertility index has been evaluated through a 30-day oral administration of aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves at the doses of 20, 110 and 200 g/kg/day. Results: Aqueous extract increased the ovarian relative weight (p < 0.001), progesterone (p < 0.001) and gonadotropins (p < 0.001) serum levels, and induced the maturation of ovarian follicles. The methanol extract additionally induced an early vaginal opening (p < 0.001), uterine growth (p < 0.01) and increased estradiol (p < 0.001) serum levels. The fertility index generally increased following treatments, while the gestation rate remained almost unaffected except at the highest tested dose of M. arboreus extracts where lowest values were observed. Conclusion: Globally, M. arboreus induced an early puberty onset and an increased fertility rate validating at least in part its traditional use for female infertility.
