Ameliorative effect of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. fruit methanol extract in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects roughly 6–21% of all females worldwide. The fruit powder of Kigelia africana has been reported for the management of PCOS hence, the effect of K. africana on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in Wistar rats was investigated. Methanol was used to extract the pulverized K. africana fruit. The toxicity of the methanol extract was evaluated using a Brine Shrimp Lethality assay. Letrozole-induced PCOS albino rats were treated with crude methanol extract (Group I) as well as Clomiphene citrate (standard, Group II). The methanol extract had an LC50 of 1442.40 ​± ​1.05 ​μg/mL. The methanol extract had the highest concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone as well as estradiol but the lowest concentration of luteinizing hormone, comparable to normal control. The ovary of an animal treated with crude extract revealed a healthy ovarian stroma with leutinization within the granular cells. According to the findings of the in vivo study, the leaf extract of K. africana fruit has a therapeutic effect on selected polycystic ovarian conditions and thus may reduce the threat of PCOS in women.