Effect of Neem leaf extract (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) on reproductive hormones in female albino Wistar rats

Neem, otherwise known as Azadirachta Indica, has been used for centuries in herbal medicine. Several studies have been done on neem leaf extract, but there is limited research on its effect on female sex hormones. The present study was thus intended to evaluate the effect of the extract on serum sex hormone levels in female rats. Fifteen (15) female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, consisting of 5 rats each. Group A served as the control. Groups B and C were administered neem leaf extract orally at the doses of 250 mg kg-1 and 500 mg kg-1 respectively for 28 days. The rats were given access to food and water. Following rats’ sacrifice, blood samples were collected into plain sample bottles and prepared for hormonal assay. Results showed that administration of neem leaf extract increased progesterone level (0.600 ± 0.100 ng/ml) at high dose (500 mg/kg body weight) compared to progesterone level (0.110 ± 0.010 ng/ml) at low dose (250 mg/kg body weight), but there was no significant difference in progesterone and estrogen levels at both doses when compared to their control (0.267±0.088 ng/ml and 30.16±10.71 pg/ml respectively). FSH and LH were significantly decreased at both doses when compared to control (P<0.05). In conclusion, this present study suggests that the neem leaf extract affects female sex hormones and may have a reversible infertility effect on female Wistar rats.