Effects of Hydro-ethanolic Leaf Extract of Sida acuta on Female Albino Rats’ Reproductive Potential and Weight: An Interventional Study

Background: Human fertility control (family planning) is among the major approaches through which unwanted pregnancy can be curbed. Hence, utilization of medicinal herbs in the development and formulation of products, as an alternative to conventional drugs, is one of the method options to achieve this. Aim: This study was designed to assess the contraceptive potentials of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta, through evaluating its effects on fertility hormones, pregnancy status, and body weight of female albino rats. Method: This experiment was conducted using thirty five (35) sexually matured albino rats. Using a CRD, the rats were randomly divided into five (5) groups of seven (7) rats each, with five (5) female and two (2) male replicate assigned to each group. The Control group (Group 1) did not receive any treatment. The females in the standard group (Group 2) were administerd with levonorgestrel-etinyl estradiol (standard drug) 7.5/0.75mg/kg b.w./day p.o. The females in the test groups (Groups 3, 4 and 5) were administered the plant extract at different doses of 100mg/kg b.w./day (Low dose), 200mg/kg b.w./day (Medium dose) and 400mg/kg b.w./day (High dose) p.o. respectively, for 28days. The initial and final body weights of the animals were measured. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta, as well as the GC-MS analysis were also performed using standard methods. Furthermore, the effects of the extract were checked on the reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, Progesterone and Estrogen), pregnancy status as well as the body weight of the animals. Results: The results revealed the presence of bioactive compounds in the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta which may be responsible for the contraceptive potentials of the plant. There were decreased levels of FSH across the groups. There was no pregnancy outcome in group 5 (high-dose group). And there was a significant weight reduction in group 5 (high-dose group). Conclusion: The result suggested that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta has suppressive effects on the reproductive hormones (especially the gonadotropins) at higher dose, thereby establishing its contraceptive potentials as confirmed by the pregnancy outcome. Also, the extract is capable of significantly decreasing body weight at a high dose.