Bioactivity of the aqueous extract of Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle, leaves on fertility parameters in rats

Female infertility is becoming a major public health issue. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the aqueous extract of Flueggea leaves virus (F. virosa ) on fertility in female Wistar rats , in comparison with clomiphene citrate (Col 50). Three groups of rats with regular cycles were formed: one group treated by gavage with F. virosa (100 mg/kg), another with Col 50 (5 mg/kg) and a third untreated control, for thirty days. The estrogenic index (OI) was determined by daily vaginal smear. Ovarian follicles were counted by histological sections and estradiol and progesterone levels were measured. The rats treated with F. virosa presented the highest OI (86.66 ± 8.62%), followed by those treated with Col 50 (68.33 ± 3.05%) and the control (62.66 ± 2.51%). The number of follicles was also higher with F. virosa (14.67 ± 1.53) than with Col 50 (13 ± 1.0) and the control (8.67 ± 0.57). Finally, the highest hormonal levels were observed with F. virosa : estradiol (85.80 ± 6.79 pg / mL ) and progesterone (48.58 ± 1.53 pg / mL ). These data show that F. virosa could be used in the treatment of female infertility. Keywords: Fertility, Flueggea virosa , ovarian follicles, hormones, rat