Reproductive Characteristics, Serum Metabolites, and Oxidative Status in Female Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Fed with Ethanolic Extract of Dichrostachys glomerata Fruit

Abstract

Dichrostachys glomerata (D. glomerata) is an aromatic plant which is used as a spice in cooking and Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat infertility in men. This work was designed to highlight the effects of the ethanolic extract of D. glomerata on oxidative status, serum metabolites and reproductive characteristics in female guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). A total of 48 primiparous female guinea pigs, aged 4 months old with the body weight of 400 ± 10 g, were divided into four groups with two replications per group (6 guinea pigs each). During 90 days of trial, Group 1 (control group) orally received 1 ml/kg b.w. of distilled water daily, and groups 2, 3, and 4 received D. glomerata ethanolic extract once a day at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.w. using the same method of administration, respectively, for 90 days, including 60 days of gestation. After the first 30 days of treatment, mating was done by placing one non-treated male into cages containing six treated females. At the end of the treatment, data were collected on reproductive characteristics, serum metabolites, and oxidative stress markers. The results revealed that the ethanolic extract of D. glomerata induced a significant decrease in the number of post-implantation resorption and ovaries weight. Groups 3 and 4 showed a significant increase in the number of fetuses per dam and viable fetuses as well as placenta weight, compared to the control group. The serum level of progesterone significantly decreased in the group treated with 200 mg/kg D. Glomerata, compared to the other treated groups. The extract at 100 mg/kg body weight showed a significant increase in fetuses weight and fetuses crown-rump length, compared to the control group. Catalase activity significantly increased in the control group than D. glomerata treated groups. In conclusion, ethanolic extract of D. glomerata minimized reproductive stress and subsequently improved the reproductive performance of guinea pigs.