Eremomastax speciosa is known to exhibit a wide range of biological activities because of the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. This work evaluates the effects of Eremomastax speciosa on reproductive hormones in female rats using standard analytical methods. The phytochemical screening and the antioxidant activities of Eremomastax speciosa leaves were also evaluated using standard methods. Twenty-five matured virgin female rats were divided into five groups of five rats each; groups 1 and 2 were the normal and positive controls and were given distilled water and the standard drug respectively while groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered the ethanol extract of the plant in graded dosages of 400, 200, and 100mg/kg respectively. The phytochemical screening reviewed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenes and flavonoids while, the leaves showed a significant free scavenging activities with IC50 90μg/ml. The hormonal result showed that the extract caused a dose dependent significant increase (p<0.05) in estrogen, prolactin, progesterone and FSH when compared with the normal control. However, there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum LH levels also in comparison with the normal control. In conclusion, the ethanol leaf extract of Eremomastax speciosa suggested an increase in the reproductive enhancing hormones which might increase the reproductive activities of the female rats.
Keywords: Antioxidant, Phytochemical, eremomastax speciosa, ethanol extract, reproductive hormones.
