Ibuprofen is often used for contraception, therefore, Xylopia aethiopica dried fruit extract and ibuprofen were tested on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), glucocorticoid, progesterone and estrogen levels in adult female rats in order to determine whether Xylopia aethiopica dried fruit extract can be used for contraception. Twenty one rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 7) comprising of control group A, experimental Group B and C. The experimental Group B received 180 mg/kg of ibuprofen daily and experimental Group C received 300 mg/kg of Xylopia aethiopica dried fruit extract. All administration of drug and extract was done via oral route and lasted for 14 days independent of estrous cycle. Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay the serum FSH, LH, glucocorticoid, progesterone and estrogen in both extract and ibuprofen treated rats were measured. Results showed that ibuprofen caused significant reduction of FSH (P<0.05). The extract did not cause significant difference in the serum FSH level. Both ibuprofen and extract caused significant reduction (P<0.05) in the serum LH levels. Both ibuprofen and extract caused significant elevation (P< 0.05) in glucocorticoid level. However, the extract caused significant reduction (P<0.05) in the serum progesterone and estrogen levels respectively compared to ibuprofen. In that sense, Xylopia aethiopica dried fruit extract acted as a more potent contraceptive, inhibitor of ovulatory hormones than ibuprofen. and selectively blocks estrogen-mediated receptors in rats [7]. Moreover, the use of synthetic steroidal contraceptives has proven unsafe to the health of the user as they pose risk of side effects [8][9][10].
Keywords:In Africa, traditional methods of contraception are on the increase and have been increasingly sought for in herbal plants because herbs are effective, cheap and safe [11] [16,17]. Meanwhile, in ancient times, women drank extracted water from Xylopia aethiopica as a natural method of contraception that became part of Igbo folklore and this led to the present research work. The plant, Xylopia aethiopica commonly known as "Uda" in Igbo language, "Eeru alamo" in Yoruba language and "Chimba" in Hausa language is a tropical evergreen, aromatic plant that grows commonly in wet swampy soils and forest zones of West Africa characterized with a slim tall tree of about 15 -30 m tall and 0.6 -0.7 m in diameter, straight stem, slightly stripped or smooth bark with consistent pepperish aroma with dry brown, corrugated in shape with pods containing 4 -9 kidney shaped peppery seeds about 0.05 m in length [18,19].However, antifertility effect of Xylopia aethiopica have been demonstrated in male rats [20,21]. In another study unpublished, we demonstrated that Xylopia aethiopica dried fruit extract caused alteration in luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and glucocorticoid hormone during proestrus phase of clomiphene-treated rats. Because Xylopia aethiopica have analgesic properties and can be used in t...
