Nigerian Botanicals Restore Hormonal Balance And Fight Menstrual Pain In Preclinical Study

Could affordable herbs connection caller dream for menstrual pain? Five accepted Nigerian plants show multi-target benefits against hormone and metabolic disruptions successful an animal exemplary of dysmenorrhea.

Study: Antioxidant and ameliorative effects of selected Nigerian plants connected hormonal imbalance associated pinch dysmenorrhea successful albino rats. Image Credit: Andy Sutherland / Shutterstock

In a caller study published successful nan journal Frontiers successful Nutrition, researchers evaluated Nigerian medicinal plants, Aristolochia littoralis, Picralima nitida, Spondias mombin, Sorghum bicolor, and Xylopia aethiopica, for their expertise to counteract monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced hormonal imbalance, oxidative stress, and lipid dysregulation associated pinch dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) successful female albino rats (Wistar strain).

Background

Up to 95% of menstruating individuals acquisition play pain, pinch estimates ranging from 45–95%, and astir 1 successful 3 suffer activity aliases schoolhouse days erstwhile symptoms peak. Primary dysmenorrhea causes mild cramps to terrible abdominal pain pinch fatigue, nausea, and headaches, typically without pelvic pathology, while secondary cases travel conditions for illustration endometriosis, uterine fibroids, aliases pelvic inflammatory disease. Elevated prostaglandins and wider inflammatory signals, including C-reactive protein, way pinch severity and are implicated successful semipermanent wellness risks. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory narcotics (NSAIDs) easiness symptoms but tin origin gastric and renal broadside effects, driving liking successful complementary and replacement medicine (CAM) options that require rigorous validation.

About nan Study

Plant materials were collected adjacent nan University of Ibadan, authenticated astatine nan Forest Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), dried, powdered, and macerated successful 70% hydroethanolic solvent (1:10) for 72 hours. Filtrates were evaporated astatine 40°C and stored. Qualitative screening recorded tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, phenols, and terpenoids. Total phenolic contented (TPC) was wished by nan Folin-Ciocalteu method pinch gallic acid; full flavonoid contented (TFC) by nan aluminum chloride method pinch rutin. Antioxidant capacity was profiled by DPPH extremist scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant powerfulness (FRAP), and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assays.

Female Wistar rats were acclimated and randomized into 8 groups: nary curen (distilled water), antagonistic power (MSG only), affirmative power (MSG + clomiphene citrate), and MSG + individual works extracts. MSG (800 mg/kg), clomiphene citrate (1 mg/kg), and extracts (100 mg/kg) were administered by gavage regular for 2 weeks. Researchers measured luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E₂) utilizing ELISA. Lipid profiles, full cholesterin (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), were utilized to cipher atherogenic scale (AI) and coronary consequence scale (CRI). Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and reproductive insubstantial histology were assessed. The study received ethical support from Bowen University (BUI/BCH/PHARM-UI/01/25/01).

Study Results

Extraction yields were comparable crossed species; Picralima nitida returned nan highest (11.8%). Qualitative profiling confirmed wide phytochemical diversity, pinch Sorghum bicolor and Picralima nitida containing each screened classes. Quantitative assays showed that Aristolochia littoralis had nan highest TPC (7.96 mg GAE/g), Sorghum bicolor had nan highest TFC (0.71 mg RE/g), and Xylopia aethiopica had a mean phytochemical mix.

Antioxidant assays revealed that Sorghum bicolor and Spondias mombin showed potent DPPH inhibition (69.55% and 91.49% astatine 1,000 μg/mL, respectively), Xylopia aethiopica exhibited nan highest FRAP activity (4.71 mg/mL), and Picralima nitida excelled successful NO scavenging (186.88 μM).

In nan MSG-induced hormonal imbalance exemplary (elevated LH/FSH, depressed E₂), Aristolochia littoralis produced nan astir balanced floor plan (↑E₂, moderated LH/FSH). Sorghum bicolor and Spondias mombin importantly accrued E₂, while Xylopia aethiopica elevated FSH but maintained E₂ levels.

Lipid improvements versus nan MSG-only group included Xylopia aethiopica having nan lowest TC (2.28 mmol/L) and LDL (1.55 mmol/L), Aristolochia littoralis achieving nan highest HDL/LDL ratio (1.394), Sorghum bicolor and Spondias mombin showing nan lowest atherogenic index, and Spondias mombin yielding nan highest GSH (0.190 mM), indicating enhanced antioxidant defense.

Histology revealed intact ovarian/uterine architecture successful Aristolochia littoralis-treated rats, whereas MSG controls exhibited vascular congestion and immature follicles. Additionally, immoderate extract-treated groups (e.g., Spondias mombin) displayed mild vascular changes.

Conclusions

Aristolochia littoralis, Sorghum bicolor, Spondias mombin, Xylopia aethiopica, and Picralima nitida demonstrated complementary effects by modulating oxidative stress, restoring hormonal balance, and improving lipid profiles successful a dysmenorrhea-linked rat model. Their multi-target actions align pinch nan accepted usage for menstrual discomfort; however, quality tests are needed to corroborate efficacy successful humans. Standardized extracts could connection affordable alternatives wherever NSAIDs are inaccessible, perchance mitigating dysmenorrhea-associated metabolic disturbances. These preclinical findings successful albino rats warrant further investigation.