Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences

en Methanol extract of Laportea aestuans reverses uterine hyperplasia in rats عمومى General پژوهشي orginal article Background & Aims: Laportea aestuans is a medicinal plant used in ethnomedicine as an abortifacient, anthelminthic, anti-fibroid, antipyretic, and anti-microbial agent. Uterine leiomyoma, a menace of reproductive age in women, is characterized by the proliferation of smooth muscle cells (hyperplasia) in the uterus. This study aims to investigate the preventive and curative anti-leiomyoma activity of Laportea aestuans using monosodium glutamate-induced uterine hyperplasia models in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Materials & Methods: The methanol whole plant extract of Laportea aestuans (MELA) was prepared by extracting the pulverized, air-dried whole plant with 2.5 L of methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus, followed by filtration and oven-drying. The acute toxicity of MELA was then assessed using Lorke’s method. Subsequently, three doses of MELA were selected for this study. Uterine hyperplasia was induced with 200 mg/kg p.o. monosodium glutamate (MSG) for 30 days. MELA was either co-administered with the inducing agent (preventive study) or administered post-induction for another 30 days (curative study). The anti-leiomyoma activity of MELA was then assessed through haematological, biochemical, and histopathological findings. Results: Increased serum oestrogen, progesterone, and total cholesterol levels were observed in the untreated fibroid animal groups, but these were significantly attenuated (p < 0.05) in animals treated with different doses of MELA. This correlated with the histopathological findings, as MELA reversed uterine hyperplasia with its therapeutic potential noted from 500 mg/kg. Conclusion: These findings suggest that MELA contains bioactive agents that can reverse MSG-induced uterine hyperplasia. It may therefore be useful in reducing the proliferation of fibroblast cells and managing other symptoms associated with uterine leiomyoma upon successful clinical trials. Fibroid, Laportea aestuans, Monosodium glutamate, MSG-induced uterine hyperplasia, Oestrogen, progesterone, Uterine hyperplasia, Uterine leiomyoma, Sex hormones 361 379 http://ijrabms.umsu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-403-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Qudus Ojomo ojomoabiola@gmail.com 10031947532846003579 10031947532846003579 Yes Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria Esther Agbaje eagbaje@unilag.edu.ng 10031947532846003580 10031947532846003580 No African Centre of Excellence for Drug Research, Medicine Development and Regulator Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria Joseph Olamijulo jolamijulo@unilag.edu.ng 10031947532846003581 10031947532846003581 No Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria