Evaluation of Pharmacodynamic Effects of Ethanolic Extract of the Leaves of Gnetum africanum on Uterine and Ovarian Tissues Morphology of Rats.

Dynamic effect of Ethanolic extract of medicinal plant, Gnetum africanum repeated oral administration on uterine and ovarian tissues histology of rats was investigated. Three tolerated doses of the extract 10, 200 and 700 mg/kg obtained from acute toxicity test were administered orally to three respective groups of female rats daily for 3 days. On the 4 th day, rats of all the groups were sacrificed and their uteri and ovaries were carefully isolated and fixed in 10% formal-saline, for 28 days. The fixed tissues were sectioned and histologically processed and examined under light microscope. Photomicrographs of the tissue sections revealed uterine endometrial hyperplasia with formation of several tiny cysts due to glandular dilatation and formation of ovarian fibromas, cytological atypia and stroma. The findings allow the conclusion that excessive oral administration of the medicinal plant, Gnetum africanum , a popular Nigerian medicinal plant, could impact a negative influence on the female reproductive physiology. Keywords: Ethanolic Extract, leaves of Gnetum africanum , Ovarian tissues, Uterus, female rats.