ETHANOLIC SEED EXTRACT OF AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE FUNCTIONS AND MICROARCHITECTURE OF THE OVARY OF ADULT FEMALE WISTAR RATS AGAINST PARAQUAT INDUCED TOXICITY

Aframomum melegueta (Alligator pepper) is a tropical plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) family, consumed for its culinary and health benefits. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of ethanolic seed extract of Aframomum melegueta at ameliorating paraquat-induced ovarian toxicity in rat models. Thirty female Wistar rats were divided into control and five test groups (n=5). Group 1 (Control) received feed and water, while other groups (2-6) were treated orally and daily for 4 weeks as follows; group 2 (400 mg/kg b.w. of Aframomum meleguate seed extract); group 3 (200 mg/kg b.w. of Aframomum meleguate seed extract); group 4 (20 mg/kg b.w. of paraquat); group 5 (co-administration of 20 mg/kg b.w. of paraquat and 400 mg/kg b.w. of Aframomum meleguate seed extract); group 6 (co-administration of 20 mg/kg b.w. of paraquat and 200 mg/kg b.w. of Aframomum meleguate seed extract). At the end of the experiment, oxidative stress markers (malondi-aldehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), estradiol levels, and histology of the ovaries were assessed. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 23 software. Oral gavage of paraquat caused ovarian degeneration, development of ovarian cysts, reduced sera estradiol levels, and higher MDA levels, while SOD levels were reduced (p<0.05) when compared to Control. Co-administration of paraquat with ethanolic seed extract of Aframomum melegueta however, improved all these parameters (ovarian histoarchitecture, MDA, SOD, and sera estradiol levels). Aframomum melegueta thus has a strong antioxidant capability, acting in a dose-dependent manner to ameliorate ovarian toxicity induced by paraquat in Wistar rat models.