Abortifacient activity of Sorghum bicolor sheath extract and its effects on selected reproductive hormones in female Wistar rats

Abstract

About 90% of women have been reported to become anaemic in pregnancy in sub Saharan Africa and India. Sorghum bicolor sheath (SBS) has been scientifically proven to be effective in anaemia treatment, but the safety of its consumption during pregnancy is unknown.Thirty-nine (39) female rats of weight 160 ± 20 g were used for this study. The test group was daily administered 800 mg/kg body weight aqueous extract of SBS. The animals were sacrificed in batches on days 7, 14 and 19. Selected hormonal assay and haematology were carried out, the uteri of the pregnant rats were observed for changes and the organ-bodyweight ratio calculated.The results showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the weight, progesterone, oestrogen and number of implantations in the test group by day 14 of the experiment. A significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in the haematological parameters of the test group. There was also a 50% resorption noticed in the pregnant rats administered the extract compared with the control rats, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the organ-body weight ratio of the liver.It was concluded from this study that Sorghum bicolor sheath extract possess abortifacient activity.