Cissampelos pareira ethanolic extract modulates hormonal indices, lipid profile, and oxidative parameters in transient infertility-induced female albino rats

Cissampelos pareira is a medicinal plant with conflicting local claims regarding its usage in the management of fertility disorder. This study investigates the effect of the ethanolic extract of C. pareira on fertility indices in female albino rats. Ethanolic extract of C. pareira was administered orally for 14 days to female rats placed in different groups. Levonorgestrel (0.14mg/g) was orally administered to certain rat groups for 7 days to induce transient infertility before other treatments. The rats were sacrificed at the completion of their respective oral administration route. Blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture for hormonal and lipid profiling, which were analysed using commercial standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Organs were harvested for the assessment of oxidative parameters. Phytochemical screening reveals the presence of alkaloid, saponin, glycoside, tannin, steroid and flavonoid in the extract. The extract has no significant effect on progesterone, significantly reduced testosterone (p<0.05), but increased prolactin and estradiol concentrations (p<0.05). No significant hormonal difference in groups pre-administered levonorgestrel. The extract significantly elevated serum triglyceride, but reduced cholesterol level (p<0.05), even in groups pre-administered with levonorgestrel. The extract significantly reduced H2O2 and SOD activities (p<0.05) in the ovary and kidney respectively. Following levonorgestrel pre- administration, the extract significantly reduced H2O2 and GSH in the liver and kidney, elevated SOD activities in the liver, ovary and brain (p<0.05). This study demonstrated the antifertility properties of the ethanolic extract of Cissampelos pareira, shown by its effects of the hormonal and lipid profile, with moderate antioxidant effect.