Aqueous Extract of Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn Leaves Attenuated the Alterations in Fluoxetine-Induced Anti-Oestrogenic Activity in Female Wistar Rats
doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i7.10
Keywords:
Oestrogenic activity,, Phyllanthus amarus,, Euphorbiaceae,, Fluoxetine,, Progesterone.Abstract
Phyllanthus amarus leaves is widely acclaimed to be significant in the management of female sexual inadequacies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus (Schum & Thonn) leaves (AEPAL) on the oestrogenic and uterine functioning indices of fluoxetine-treated female rats. Thirty healthy, sexually-responsive female rats (141.52±6.26g) were divided into six groups (A–F) comprising of 5 rats each. The animals in Group A (control group) were administered distilled water only, whereas those in Groups B,C,D,E, and F received orally 15 mg/kg body weight (b.w) of fluoxetine prepared daily in distilled water for 14 days for the induction of anti-oestrogenicity and subsequently received 0.5ml of distilled water, 10 mg/kg b.w of a reference drug (Tadalafil) and 0.5 mL equivalent to 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg b.w of the extract respectively, orally, once daily (08:00-08:45h) for 7 days. The concentrations of total protein, total cholesterol, glycogen and oestrogen, along with the activities of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in the ovaries and uteri of the animals were significantly reduced (p<0.05) following the administration of fluoxetine. In contrast, these reductions were overturned by the AEPAL towards the control group. The extract at 80 mg/kg b.w ameliorated the reduced concentrations of these oestrogenic indices when compared with the non-sexually dysfunction control animals. The effect of Phyllanthus amarus leaves on endogenous estrogen's activity and induction of gonadotrophin synthesis or secretion may further lend backing to the widespread use of Phyllanthus amarus leaves in handling some sterility/infertility problems in women.
References
Brown HM and Russell DL. Blood and lymphatic vasculature in the ovary: Development, function and disease. Hum Reprod Update. 2013; 20(1):29-39.
Rzepka-Górska I, Tarnowski B, Chudecka-Głaz A, Górski B, Zielińska D, Tołoczko-Grabarek A. Premature menopause in patients with BRCA1 gene mutation. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006; 100(1):59-63.
Romero-Reyes J, Cárdenas M, Damián-Matsumura P, Domínguez R, Ayala ME. Inhibition of serotonin reuptake in the prepubertal rat ovary by fluoxetine and effects on ovarian functions. Reprod Toxicol. 2016; 59:80-88.
Mazaro-Costa R, Andersen ML, Hachul H, Tufik S. Medicinal plants as alternative treatments for female sexual dysfunction: utopian vision or possible treatment in climacteric women? J Sex Med. 2010; 7(11):3695-3714.
Kumar S, Choudhary H, Seniya C. In vitro antibacterial study of aqueous and methanolic extracts of some selected medicinal plants. J Chem Pharm Res. 2011; 3:854-860.
Khatoon S, Rai V, Rawat A. Comparative pharmacognostic studies of three Phyllanthus species. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004; 104:79-86.
Patel JR, Tripathi P, Sharma V, Chauhan NS. Dixit VK. Phyllanthus amarus: Ethnomedicinal uses phytochemistry and pharmacology: A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011; 138(2):286–313.
Dhongade H and Chandewar AV. Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical studies of Phyllanthus amarus leaves. Int J Biomed Adv Res. 2013; 4(6):382-389.
Sen A and Batra A. The study of in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of Phyllanthus amarus Schum Thonn: A medicinally important plant. Int J Phar Pharm Sci. 2013; 5(3):942-947.
Nurudeen QO and Yakubu MT. Phytochemical Composition, Mineral Contents and Amino Acid Profile of Phyllanthus amarus leaves. Al-Hikmah J Pure Appl Sci. 2015; 1:1-7.
Nurudeen QO and Yakubu MT. Aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus leaves restores sexual competence in female rats induced into sexual dysfunction by fluoxetine. Nig J Biochem Mol Biol. 2016; 31(1):1-14.
Amaechina FC and Omogbai EK. Hypotensive effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn (Euphorbiaceae). Acta Polon Pharm Drug Res. 2007; 64(6):547-552.
Lim YY and Murtijaya J. Antioxidant properties of Phyllanthus amarus extracts as affected by different drying methods. LWT-Food Sci Tech. 2007; 40(9):1664-1669.
Harikumar KB, Kuttan G, Kuttan R. Inhibition of viral carcinogenesis by Phyllanthus amarus. Integ Cancer Ther. 2009; 8(3):254-260.
Ravikumar YS, Ray U, Nandhitha M, Perween A, Naika HR, Khanna N, Das S. Inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication by herbal extract: Phyllanthus amarus as potent natural source. Virus Res. 2011; 158(1-2):89-97.
Santos AR, Filho VC, Niero R, Viana AM, Moreno FN, Campos MM, Calixto JB. Analgesic effects of callus culture extracts from selected species of Phyllanthus in mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994; 46(9):755-759.
Mali SM, Sinnathambi A, Kapase CU, Bodhankar SL, Mahadik KR. Anti-arthritic activity of standardised extract of Phyllanthus amarus in Freund's complete adjuvant induced arthritis. Biomed Aging Pat. 2011; 1(3):185-190.
Appiah-Opong R, Nyarko AK, Dodoo D, Gyang FN, Koram KA, Ayisi NK. Antiplasmodial activity of extracts of Tridax procumbens and Phyllanthus amarus in in vitro Plasmodium falciparum culture systems. Ghana Med J. 2011; 45(4):143 – 150.
Santos AR, De Campos RO, Miguel OG, Filho VC, Siani AC, Yunes RA. Calixto JB. Antinociceptive properties of extracts of new species of plants of the genus Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae). J Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 72(1-2):229- 238.
Cheng YA, Wang SD, Dang SS, Gao N, Yang Y. Clinical study of Phyllanthus pill on treating chronic hepatitis B. Zhongxiyi Jiehe Ganbing Zazhi. 2009; 19(17):195-197.
Joshi H and Parle M. Evaluation of the antiamnesic effects of Phyllanthus amarus in mice. Colomb Médica. 2007; 38(2):132 – 139.
Shyamjith M, Deepa B, Joy AE, Rao SN. Anticonvulsant activity of Phyllanthus amarus in experimental animal models. Int J App Biol Pharm Tech. 2011; 2(4):144 – 149.
National Research Council. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 8th ed. Washington: National Academies Science Press; 2011. 161-196 p.
Yakubu MT, Oladiji AT, Akanji MA. Mode of cellular toxicity of aqueous extract of Fadogia agrestis (Schweinf. Ex Hiern) stem in male rat liver and kidney. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2009; 28(8):469-478.
Wright PJ, Leathwood PD, Plummer DT. Enzymes in rat urine. Acid phosphatase. Enzymol. 1972; 42(6):459-462.
Wright PJ, Leathwood PD, Plummer DT. Enzymes in rat urine: Alkaline phosphatase. Enzymol. 1972; 42(4):317- 327.
Tietz NW. Clinical Guides to Laboratory Tests. 3rd ed, W.B. Saunders Company; Philadelphia, USA 1995. 554-556 p.
Gornall AC, Bardawill CJ, David MM. Determination of serum protein by means of biuret reaction. J Biol Chem. 1949; 177:751-756.
Kemp A and Van Heijningen AJ. A colorimetric micromethod for the determination of glycogen in tissues. Biochem J. 1954; 56(4):646-648.
Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972; 18(6):499 –502.
Takacs P, De Santis T, Nicholas MC, Verma U, Strassberg R, Duthely L. Echogenic endometrial fluid collection in postmenopausal women is a significant risk factor for disease. J Ultra Med. 2005; 24(11):1477–1481.
Cotton S, Small J, Pomiankowski A. Sexual selection and condition- dependent mate preferences. Curr Biol. 2006; 16(17):R755–R765.
Mutreja A, Agarwal M, Kushwaha S, Chauhan A. Effect of Nelumbo nucifera seeds on the reproductive organs of female rats. Iran J Reprod Med. 2008; 6(1):7-11.
Sirotkin AV, Makarevich AV, Grosmann R. Protein kinases and ovarian functions. J Cell Physiol, 2011; 226(1):37-45.
Lee DC, Hassan SS, Romero R, Tarca AL, Bhatti G, Gervasi MT, Caruso JA, Stemmer PM, Kim CJ, Hansen LK, Bechner N, Uldbjerg N. Protein profiling underscores immunological functions of uterine cervical mucus plug in human pregnancy. J Proteomics. 2011; 74(6):817-828.
Roberts RM and Bazer FW. The functions of uterine secretions. J Reprod Fert. 1988; 82(2):875-892.
Pathak S and Prakash AO. Post-coital contraceptive effect of Ferula jaeschkeana Vatke and its hormonal properties. Phyto Res. 1989; 3:61–66.
Dean M, Hunt J, Mcdougall L, Rose J. Uterine glycogen metabolism in mink during estrus, embryonic diapause and pregnancy. J Reprod Develop. 2014; 60(6):438-446.
Schneider JE. Energy balance and reproduction. Physiol Behav. 2004; 81(2):289-317.
Schuler LA, Toaff ME, Strauss JF. Regulation of ovarian cholesterol metabolism: control of 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase. Endocrinol. 1981; 108(4):1476-1486.
Smith RD, Babiychuk EB, Noble K, Draeger A, Wray S. Increased cholesterol decreases uterine activity: functional effects of cholesterol alteration in pregnant rat myometrium. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2005; 288(5):C982-988.
Elmes MJ, Tan DS-Y, Cheng Z, Wathes DC, Mcmullen S. The effects of a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet on markers of uterine contractility during parturition in the rat. Reprod. 2011; 141(2):283-290.
Bansode FW, Chauhan SC, Makker A, Singh MM. Uterine luminal epithelium alkaline phosphatase activity and pinopod development in relation to endometrial sensitivity in the rat. Contracep. 1998; 58(1):61-68.
Hamidabady GH, Salehnia M, Batahi Z. A comparative study of mouse ovarian alkaline phosphatase activity in normal and pseudopregnancies. Yakhteh Med J. 2006; 8(1):53-59.
Bojnordi MN, Salehnia M, Allameh A. Evaluation of acid phosphatase activity alterations in mouse ovary after ovarian hyperstimulation in early stages of pseudo and normal pregnancies until implantation time. J Reprod Infert. 2006; 7(1):17-24.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
