PROGESTERONE-LIKE EFFECTS OF HAPLOPTERIS FLEXUOSA (FÉE) E.H. CRANE ON VAGINAL BLEEDING IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MURINE MODEL

The study evaluated the progesterone-like effects of the ethanol extract of Haplopteris flexuosa (Fée) E.H. Crane in the treatment of vaginal bleeding, with potential application in managing menorrhagia, using murine models that mimic human menstruation. The results showed that vaginal bleeding mice treated with the ethanol extract of H. flexuosa (at doses of 0.8 g/kg and 1.6 g/kg) and Utrogestan (progesterone) (at a dose of 0.05 g/kg) exhibited significant improvement in pathological symptoms, including an increase in progesterone levels, a subsequent reduction in the number of cornified cells in the vaginal lavage fluid, increased endometrial thickness, and reduced uterine-ovarian weight with a recovery trend. Furthermore, histology of the uterus showed an increased number of glands, with only mild shedding of the endometrial lining. In conclusion, H. flexuosa exhibits progesterone-like effects in a murine model of vaginal bleeding and may potentially be applied in the treatment of menorrhagia. These results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms and applications of H. flexuosa in progesterone-related therapies for women's health issues.