PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF AJWA ON NICOTINE INDUCED CHANGES IN BLOOD VESSELS AND CORPUS LUTEUM

Introduction: Nicotine adversely affects ovarian functions and Ajwa (Phoenix dactylifera) being an antioxidant prevents nicotine from causing toxicity. Aims & Objectives: To assess the effects of Ajwa on nicotine induced vascular and luteal changes in adult albino rats. Material & Methods: Study was conducted in the Anatomy Department of Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore. Four equal groups were made of 40 adult female albino rats. 1ml distilled water was given to the rats of control (A) group by gastric intubation, experimental group B was given nicotine injection intraperitoneally (0.1 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. The rats of experimental group C were given Ajwa fruit extract 1gm/kg body weight daily by gastric intubation, while rats of experimental group D were given 0.1mg/kg body weight nicotine intraperitoneally plus 1gm/kg body weight Ajwa fruit extract by gastric intubation for 28 days. Results: Vascular congestion was found in one rat of group A & D and in all animals of group B. Corpus luteum of group B revealed congestion and was focally infiltrated by inflammatory cells. Conclusion: Ajwa improves nicotine induced changes in blood vessels and corpus luteum of adult albino rats, so it may be useful to improve infertility or subfertility induced by smoking in women.