​​​​​​​May 2020, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 142-148. 

​​​Comparative effect of Flavonoid Rich Fraction and Whole Leaves Extract of Vernonia amygdalina on Male and Female Sex Hormones in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Albino Wistar Rats

Odama Richard Ikani¹*, Ujong Peter Ujong², Ezeh Charles Ogbonna¹, Kenechukwu Chibuike Onyekwelu¹, Akighir John³
¹Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu.
²Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar.
³Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

​​​*Corresponding author’s e-mail: ikanirichard@yahoo.com

​Abstract

​Vernonia amygdalina is a shrub that grows throughout the tropical Africa. Several studies have reported the nutritional, anti-malaria, anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol and anti-helminthic effects of its extracts, but there is scanty information on its effect on reproduction. Against this background, this study was design to investigate the comparative effect of methanolic 30% flavonoid rich fraction and whole leave extract of Vernonia amygdalina on reproductive hormones profile of treated diabetic albino Wistar rats. After 28 days of treatment for gonadal studies. The animals were anaesthetized at the end of the treatment period using chloroform in an enclosed chamber prior to dissection in conformity with University of Calabar animal handling ethical standards. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture into labeled sterilized sample bottles and allowed to clot at room temperature for one hour and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10minute to recover serum. Sera was isolated and stored at -30°C for hormonal assay. Plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormones, and estradiol levels were assayed using Enzyme-link Immuno-absorbent Assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc test at p<0.05. Treatment of rats with all the doses caused significant decrease in serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone levels in group treated with crude extract and flavonoid rich fraction when compared to normal control group while serum estradiol level only has a significant increase in 30% flavonoid treated group. Luteinizing hormone has no significant increase or decrease in crude treated group but has a significant increase in 30% flavonoid treated group in relative to normal control group. It can therefore be concluded that 30% flavonoid rich fraction of Vernonia amygdalina induces increase in reproductive hormones when compared to the crude extract in both sexes of albino Wistar rats.

Keywords:Vernonia amygdalina; Male and Female Sex Hormones; Luteinizing hormone; Diabetes.

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