Журнал фармакогнозии и натуральных продуктов

A study of the effect of an ethanolic extract of femitol on uterine fibroid in laboratory model

Abstract

Maryna Yashunina

Uterine fibroids are becoming a common pelvic benign tumor among women of reproductive age in Ghana. This study aimed at evaluating the
anti-fibroid property of femitol on MSG-induced uterine leiomyoma in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Total plasma cholesterol, plasma estradiol
concentrations and uterus weight to body weight ratio were determined in normal rats, rats in which MSG (800 mg/kg) and an ethanolic extract
of femitol (80, 160 and 400 mg/kg) had been administered concurrently for 30 days, as well as pretreatment with 800 mg kg MSG treatment for
30 days and treated with femitol (80, 160 and 400 mg/kg) for 30 days. Acute and delayed toxicity tests were carried out to establish the safety
for use of the extract by cage-side observation, assessing hematological, liver and kidney function. Histopathological studies on the liver and
kidney were also performed. Total plasma cholesterol and estradiol were significant elevation (P ≤ 0.001) together with an elevation of uterus
weight to body weight ratio by 71.55% on treating normal female rats with 800 mg kg-1 MSG. Preventive and curative treatment of MSG-treated
animals with 80 and 160 mg/kg femitol significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.001) the elevated plasma cholesterol and estradiol with a subsequent
lowering of uterine/body weight ratio. Pictures showed decrease uterine cell proliferation. Biochemistry results indicated no significant changes
in liver and kidney functions. Histological studies showed no significant femitol-treatment damage in the liver and kidney. Findings suggest that
femitol has antifibroid activity and is safe to use