EFFECTS OF JATROPHA CURCAS EXTRACTS ON THE HORMONAL PROFILE OF MATURE FEMALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Extracts from Jatropha curcas, a tropical shrub, serve as multi-purpose drugs in folk medicine.
Previous studies have shown contraceptive and abortifacient potency of the extract of this plant. This
study assessed the effect of oral administration of J. curcas root extracts on hormonal levels of follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin in
Wistarrats. The root extracts of J. curcas in water (JCW) and 80% ethanol (JCE) were prepared using
the Soxhlet extraction method. Four groups of mature female Wistar rats (Groups A-D) were
administered varying doses of JCW or JCE once daily for 15 days. Another group (Group E) served as
control with no extract. After 15 days of extract administration, the rats were fasted for 18 h and
sacrificed. Venous blood samples were collected from each group for analysis of fasting glucose level
and lipid profile using spectrophotometry. We observed that, except for prolactin, the levels of all
other hormones decreased significantly in the rats treated with the root extracts, compared to the
control(all P < 0.05). Among groups that were treated with varying doses of JCW, the levels of E2,
progesterone, and LH increased with an increase in the concentration of the JCW. Although there was no
dose-dependent increasing or decreasing trend in case of FSH and prolactin, the levels of these
hormones varied significantly among the rats of Groups A-C. Administration of the root extracts
of J. curcas led to a decline in the serum FSH, LH progesterone, and E2, compared to the control
group, indicating adverse effect of root extract on fertility of Wistar rats.