Effects of Spondias mombin and Aspilia africana Aqueous Extracts on Rats with Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Leiomyoma

Abstract

Uterine leiomyoma is commonly known as fibroid. Increased use of chemicals is believed to enhance its prevalence and monosodium glutamate is implicated. Fibroid is prevalent among black women with no known drug for its treatment. It is therefore necessary to determine a safer method for fibroid treatment. This work investigated effects of different aqueous extracts of Spondias mombin (hog plum) and Aspilia africana (wild sunflower) leaves on uterus and kidney cells of rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced fibroid. Twenty-eight rats used in this study were divided into four groups of seven rats each and acclimatized. Fibroid was induced on the Positive control, Groups III and IV, after daily ingestion of 750mg/kg body weight of MSG for 28 days. Negative control had no fibroid but the Positive control remained untreated. Groups III and IV were continuously ingested with same dose of MSG for the next 28 days with daily oral treatment using 250mg/kg body weight aqueous extracts of hog plum and wild sunflower, respectively. Histological examinations were performed on the 2nd and 4th weeks, respectively, on two rats from each group for the next 28 days. Results showed degenerated endometrial cells and preserved nephritic tissues after treatment with aqueous extracts of S. mombin leaves. There was mild hyperplasia of endometrial cells after treatment with extract of A. africana in the 2nd week which differed from the 4th week. MSG has nephrotoxic properties and aqueous extract of S. mombin alleviated MSG oxidative powers on rats’ endometrial cells. With continuous ingestion, A. africana aqueous extract better preserved rat’s endometrium from oxidizing action of MSG. These extracts could be used as safer chemotherapy in fibroid management.