Thin layer chromatographic fraction of root extract of Polygonum hydropiper induces vaginal epithelial cell maturation in adult ovariectomized albino rat

Abstract

Dry root powder of Polygonum hydropiper is traditionally used as an antifertility agent by women of north east India. The effect of crude root extract of P. hydropiper on reproductive performance of female albino rat was reported earlier from this laboratory. In the present investigation, attempt was made to find estrogenic effect, if any, of thin layer chromatographic fraction of the crude extract. To achieve the goal, methanolic crude extract was fractionated in thin layer chromatography (TLC). Estradiol-17β was used as the reference compound to identify the estrogenic compound in the crude root extract. The effect of TLC fraction was studied on the vaginal epithelial cell maturation in adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats and uterine histology of OVX and ovary-intact females. The TLC fraction was administered (sc) to adult OVX females at a dose of 5mg/kg/ day for 18 days. Estradiol-17β was injected as reference compound. Vaginal smears were stained with Giemsa's to observe the cell types. Rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at the end of the treatment and the uterine epithelium was subjected to histological analysis. The TLC fraction treated OVX females showed characteristic epithelial cell types (parabasal, intermediate, superficial and cornified) in the smear. Histological evidence revealed increased proliferation of the endometrial surface epithelium in the TLC fraction treated females. The results reveal that TLC fraction of root extract of Polygonum hydropiper contains compound(s) which has functional similarities with E2 and ovarian estrogen in female albino rats.