Turmeric Extract Effects on Rat Ovary and Uterus | InformativeBD

Efe Endurance Ahama, Omewomano Peace Onyilo, Emmanuel Agbamu, Igho Emmanuel Odokuma , Ijeoma Favour Ossai and Oroghene Clinton Ogorugba, from the different institute of the Nigeria. wrote a research article about, Turmeric Extract Effects on Rat Ovary and Uterus, entitled, Histologic sequelae following exposure to turmeric extract on wistar rats ovary and uterus.This research paper published by the International Journal of Biomolecules and Biomedicine | IJBB. an open access scholarly research journal on Biomedicine. under the affilition of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The regular and single use of turmeric in reference to the reproductive system following several review is conflicting, and its effect has not been fully ascertained. The study therefore espoused the histologic sequelae following exposure to turmeric extract on wistar rats ovary and uterus. Ethical clearance was sought from the Research and Ethics Committee in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of the Delta State University prior to the commencement of this research. 24 wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group A was the control group while groups B, C and D were the treated groups that received 500, 1000 and 1500mg/kg of turmeric extract respectively. Animals were also sub-sectioned, labeled accordingly into 7th, 14th and 21st days respectively for easy identification and treatment or administration. At the end of each experimental days, animals were weighed and euthanized by cervical dislocation. Ovaries and uterus were dissected and fixed in 10% formal saline solution, following regulated histologic procedures. Prepared Slides were viewed using a digital microscope. The micrographs obtained revealed deleterious effect on the histology and cytology of the ovary and uterus following treatment of turmeric. The observed histological distortions to the ovary and uterus have most likely arisen from repeated exposure to tumeric extract; this has proven turmeric to be an harmful substance to the female reproductive system especially women of child bearing age and the regular and continuous consumption of these agent should be regulated.  

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Introduction

Turmeric is a commonly used spice, popularly known as Curcuma as its active ingredient. It is rhizomatous and herbaceous plant use to attain certain health ameliorating effect in humans (Lestari and Indrayanto, 2014). It possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-angiogenic and anticancer effects, which ascertain it therapeutic property (Ahmad et al., 2020; Bahrami et al., 2020). It can also boost immunocompetent cells and produce inflammatory cytokines (Moody et al., 2020). On the otherhand its mechanism of action remain unknown in respect to reproduction, but it is a known fact that tumeric is phytoestrogenic in nature (Bachmeiri et al., 2010). It’s widely consumed as a traditional medicine despite the lack of awareness of its safety or toxic effects especially to the reproductive system (Jeber and Tawfeek, 2012; Thakur et al., 2009; Ilyas et al., 2019).

Reproduction is a vital biological process for maintenance of species. However, exogenous substances such as herbs can be used to suppress or promote fertility (Harat et al., 2008). A study has proven the beneficial antioxidative effect of curcumin on the testis and ovaries (Jeber and Tawfeek, 2012). In the ovaries, turmeric promotes ovarian viability, folliculogenesis, fecundity and response to hormones. Some studies have also reveal curcumin to mediate cell cycle arrest in many different tumour cells through the regulation of several proteins and cascades (Park et al., 2002; Aggrawal et al., 2006). Jeber and Tawfeek in their study also affirmed to the protective effect of curcumin as against potassium dichromate induced ovary. The beneficial effect of turmeric on dysmenorrhea and endometriosis, as a therapeutic major by way of reducing endometrial cells lining is also documented in the uterus (Utami et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2013)

Apart from the beneficial effects of curcumin on female reproduction, ominious effects such as decrease of gonadotropin hormones and inhibition of the estrous cycle have been documented (Thakur et al., 2009). Studies have also proven turmeric to be an infertility agent with discoveries showing its relaxant properties that reduces the level of oxytocin thereby reducing the contraction of the uterus which is not healthy for women of childbearing age (Ittipanichong et al., 2003; Manvizhi et al., 2020). Morealso, turmeric has been shown to cause degenerative features of the graafian follicles and germinal epithelium of the ovaries with presence of rudimentary corpus luteam cells (Ray et al., 2011). Considering the aforementioned treatise reviewed, with contracdictory (safety and toxic) effect of the use of turmeric on female reproduction which is not fully studied or ascertained coupled with scanty reports on the anatomic histoarchitecture of uterus and ovary following exposure to the single use of turmeric. The study therefore evaluated the histologic sequelae following exposure to turmeric extract on wistar rats ovary and uterus.

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