title: Biochemical and physiological alterations in female reproductive organs of cyclic rats treated with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.
abstract: Biochemical and physiological alterations have been observed in the genital tract of female cyclic rats treated with aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. Its administration caused a significant increase in the glycogen contents, protein concentration, activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase and the level of total cholesterol in all the organs at initial days of treatment. However, at longer days of treatment the values revealed a significant depletion. Initially its administration stimulated the uterine structures, caused metaplastic changes in the cervical epithelium and provoked considerable cornification in the vaginal epithelium. At later durations significant inhibition in the histoarchitecture was observed. Biochemical observations supplemented with the histological findings have been correlated with the anti-implantation action of the aqueous extract in the light of its hormonal properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Prakash
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts