Piper guineense Leaf Extract Elevates Serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone Level in the Diestrus Phase in Non-Pregnant Female Albino Wistar Rats

Piper guineense plant has been reported to stimulate reproductive hormone secretion in males; although no known research in females, it is commonly used in the making of postpartum tonics that contract uterine muscles in order to expel clots after birth. Clomiphene citrate was employed in order to ascertain degree of fertility induction and test the effect of methanol extract of Piper guineense leaf on follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and oestrogen in non-pregnant wistar albino rats.

Twenty four non-pregnant wistar albino rats on metestrus phase of the estrous cycle were selected and randomly divided into four groups A - D. Group A served as control. Group B rats were administered 1 mg/kg/day of clomiphene citrate only while Group D rats were administered 1 mg/kg/day of clomiphene citrate plus 200 mg/kg/day of Piper guineense leaf extract. Groups C rats received 200 mg/kg/day of Piper guineense leaf extract only. All administration was via oral route and the experiment lasted for 14 days.

At the end of the experiment, results showed Groups A, B and C rats were in diestrus phase while group D in proestrus. Results also showed statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in plasma FSH in Group C and Group D compared to control group A and Group B. LH and oestrogen were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in Groups B and D compared to control group A and Group C, although LH was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Group D compared to Group B. LH and oestrogen levels remained unchanged in Group C compared with group A.

The results revealed that extract caused an increase in FSH production and steadied LH and oestrogen levels in the serum while combination of extract and clomiphene citrate caused an increase in FSH production as well as significant reduction in LH and oestrogen. FSH remained unaffected in clomiphene citrate treated rats only. The estrous cyclic changes remained unaffected in extract treated rats.

The findings suggest that Piper guineense leaf extract caused a significant rise in FSH without altering LH, oestrogen and the estrous cycle in female rats.