Morphometric Malformations in Fetal Rats Following Treatment with Aqueous Leaf Extract of Carica Papaya

Authors

  • Moses B Ekong University of Uyo
  • Mandu U Akpan Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar
  • Theresa B Ekanem Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar
  • Mfon I Akpaso Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v2i1.4028

Keywords:

C. papaya, fetus, morphometry, malformation, rats

Abstract

Objective: Carica papaya popularly known as papaya or pawpaw is a fruit with diverse nutritional and medicinal properties. The continuous use of the leaf extract as enema by pregnant women necessitated this study on the effect of aqueous extract of the young leaves on the morphometry of the fetuses of pregnant Wistar rats.

Material & Methods: Twenty seven sexually matured Wistar rats consisting of eighteen females and nine males, and weighing 180-200g were used for the study. The female rats were assigned equally into three groups of A, B and C. Pregnancies were obtained after the introduction of the males into the female cages overnight. On day 12 of preg-nancy, group A (control) was given sham treatment of tap water, while groups B and C were treated with 60mg/kg and 120mg/kg respectively, of the aqueous leaf extract of C. papaya for seven days (days 12-18 of pregnancy). On day 20 of gestation, the animals were anaesthetized using chloroform and euthanized, and the uteri dissected out to study the fetuses.

Results: Results revealed reduced number of viable fetuses, reduced fetal weight, and reduced crown-rump, head, and tail lengths in the group treated with 60mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of C. papaya, while there was resorption of all the fetuses in the group treated with 120mg/kg of the aqueous leaf extract of C. papaya.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the aqueous leaf extract of C. papaya at the given dosage in this study is detrimental to developing fetuses, and these effects were dose dependent. Hence, the use of the extract especially during the period of gestation should be discouraged.

Key Words: C. papaya; fetus; morphometry; malformation; rats

DOI: 10.3126/ajms.v2i1.4028

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 2 (2011) 18-22

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Author Biography

Moses B Ekong, University of Uyo

Anatomy/Lecturer II

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Published

2011-05-14

How to Cite

Ekong, M. B., Akpan, M. U., Ekanem, T. B., & Akpaso, M. I. (2011). Morphometric Malformations in Fetal Rats Following Treatment with Aqueous Leaf Extract of Carica Papaya. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2(1), 18–22. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v2i1.4028

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2011)

Section

Original Articles

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