Effects of methanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (Hook f.) on the reproductive indices of female albino rats

This study investigated the effects of oral administration of methanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (MLETO) on the reproductive indices of female albino rats. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley albino rats (42 females and 14 males) were used for the study. The females were randomly assigned into 7 groups (designated A, B, C, D, E, F and G). Group A received only distilled water, while groups B and C received 200 and 800 mg/kg body weight of MLETO for the first 7 days of gestation; groups D and E received 200 and 800 mg/kg of MLETO for the first 14 days, and groups F and G received 200 and 800 mg/kg of MLETO for the entire 21 days of gestation respectively. The males were only used in mating the females. The number of return to estrus per pregnancy, number of implanted/developing conceptuses, gestation length, litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, crown-rump length at birth and aborting rat were assessed. Quantal pregnancy, implantation index, viability index, birth index, live-birth index and percentage aborted were calculated. Serum progesterone was also assayed. There were no significant ( P > 0.05 ) variations between the groups in all the reproductive indices assessed and also on the serum progesterone level. It was concluded that administration of MLETO as used in this study had no significant effect on the reproductive indices and serum progesterone levels of pregnant rats.