Sains Malaysiana 46(10)(2017): 1721–1726

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4610-07

 

The Effects of Malaysian Herb, Labisia pumila var. alata on Oestrous Cyclicity and Reproductive Parameters of Nulliparous Rats

(Kesan Herba Malaysia, Labisia pumila var. alata ke atas Kitaran Oestrus dan Parameter Reproduktif Tikus Nuliparus)

 

 

WAN EZUMI MOHD FUAD¹*, HASNAN JAAFAR² & SITI AMRAH SULAIMAN³

 

¹Programme of Biomedicine, School of Health Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

 

²Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

 

³Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

 

Received: 2 May 2016/Accepted: 20 February 2017

 

ABSTRACT

Numerous nutraceutical products containing the powdered or extracted parts of Labisia pumila (Myrsinaceae) have been widely available for years in Malaysia, aimed at women of reproductive age. However, there is scarce of information concerning the effects of this plant on the reproductive function of nulliparous females prior to the present study. The toxicity potential of Labisia pumila var. alata (LPA) on oestrous cycle and reproductive parameters was evaluated in groups of 40 virgin rats. They were administered with LPA at the doses of 0 (control), 20, 200 or 1000 mg/kg/day for duration of three weeks. The results obtained indicated that the administration of LPA at all dose levels did not cause mortality nor show noticeably any treatment-related signs of toxicity on the physical appearance, behaviour and body weight of all the rats studied. The pattern and length of oestrous cyclicity as well as the changes in reproductive hormones were statistically comparable among groups. No indications of abnormalities in the histology of uterus and vagina were observed. However, the presence of ovarian follicular cysts has raised apprehension that requires further investigation. The current findings suggested that oral treatment of LPA were associated with toxicity concerns

 

Keywords: Labisia pumila var. alata; nulliparous; oestrous cycle; ovarian cyst; rat

 

ABSTRAK

Pelbagai produk nutraseutik yang mengandungi serbuk atau ekstrak Labisia pumila (Myrsinaceae) terdapat secara meluas di Malaysia sejak sekian lama, disasarkan kepada wanita dalam usia reproduktif. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat sedikit maklumat mengenai kesan tumbuhan ini ke atas fungsi reproduktif betina nuliparus sebelum kajian ini dijalankan. Potensi ketoksikan Labisia pumila var. alata (LPA) telah dinilai ke atas kitaran oestrus dan parameter reproduktif bagi sekumpulan 40 tikus dara. Tikus tersebut diberikan LPA pada dos 0 (kawalan), 20, 200 or 1000 mg/kg/hari selama tiga minggu. Keputusan yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahawa pemberian dos LPA pada semua peringkat tidak menyebabkan kematian, juga tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda ketoksikan yang ketara pada keadaan fizikal, perlakuan dan berat badan semua tikus yang dikaji. Corak dan tempoh kitaran oestrus serta perubahan hormon reproduktif adalah setanding secara statistik dalam kalangan semua kumpulan rawatan. Tiada indikasi ketaknormalan yang diperhatikan dalam histologi uterus dan vagina. Walau bagaimanapun kehadiran sista folikel ovari telah menimbulkan kebimbangan yang memerlukan kajian lanjut. Penemuan dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa rawatan oral LPA dikaitkan dengan kebimbangan kesan toksik.

 

Kata kunci: Kitar oestrus; Labisia pumila var. alata; nuliparus; sista ovari; tikus

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*Corresponding author; email: wanezumi@usm.my