ASSESSMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES IN FEMALEALBINO RATS FED WITH MUCUNA PRURIENS LINN SEED MEAL DIET

Abstract

Women around the world have been preventing unintended pregnancy through various forms of birth control practices in which most Nigerian women cannot be excluded. This study investigated the claim of using Mucuna pruriens seed as a birth control for women in Nigeria. The study adopted experimental research. The effect of M. pruriens seed was experimented on the reproductive hormone of 16 adult female albino rats randomized into 2 experimental groups consisting of 8 rats per group for 16 days. Group 1 (control) group was fed with normal feed while group 2 was fed with diets containing Mp seed powder at 0.75g corresponding to one M. pruriens seed. The levels of estradiol, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were monitored using standard methods. Significant improvements in the serum level of all the hormones (p < 0.05) were observed in group 2. In conclusion, this study has revealed that Mucuna pruriens seed meal at 0.75g (1 seed) increased the level of estradiol, FSH in female. It has also indicated the potential of M. pruriens to enhance fertility and established the efficacy of M.pruriens seed powder as fertility enhancer in female rather than as a birth control. This provides some justification to the use of M. pruriens seed powder as fertility enhancer in women at a dosage of 1 seed and should be encouraged as it will reduce the dependence on synthetic drugs as fertility enhancing agents.