Abstract

ABSTRACT Anthocleista vogelii Planch, phyto-constituents was evaluated and the plant leave extracts investigated on the claims of the traditional medicine practitioners of its usage as fertility enhancer in females. Ethanolic extract of Anthocleista vogelii were administered orally for 14 days to female albino rats placed in different groups. First, temporary infertility was induced with Micronor (norethisterone) or Nacetylcysteine (NAC) given orally to some rats, for seven (7) days prior to other treatment. The rats were sacrificed after the completion of extract administration. The absolute counts of clusters of differentiation CD4+ and CD8+ was performed on the blood samples using the Becton Dickinson’s (BD) FACS Count Automated technique. Hormonal analysis was performed on sera obtained from the experimental animals using commercial standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The extract was found to possess Anthraquinones, Terpenoids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Alkaloids, Phenols and Phytosterols . The obtained results of the test group compared with control showed a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) in CD4+ and CD8+ counts cells and Prolactin, testosterone respectively. The results showed a significant increase of estradiol, leutinizing hormone, in the female rats in the control group compared to extract treated group. The result also suggested that Anthocleista vogelii may have a role in creating the environment required for enhancing pregnancy by decreasing ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ linked Th1 andTh2 cytokines production activation. Estradiol, luetinising hormone, concentration therefore support the claims on the traditional use of Anthocliesta vogelii that it enhance fertility in female.

Keywords: Ethanolic extract, Anthocleista vogelii,, Femal fertility, CD4+ and CD8+, and Oestradiol , leutinising hormone, Prolactin.