Abstract

The Effectiveness of Super Ovulation and Multiple Pregnancies in Sprague Dawley Rat using Morus alba Linn. Fruit

Author(s):Heshu Sulaiman Rahman, Karwan Sidiq Muhammad, Faraidoun Abdul Sattar, Rasedee Abdullah, Hemn Hassan Othman, Swee Keong Yeap, Max Stanley Chartrand and Kawa Muhamad Amin

The white mulberry, Morus alba L. has been used by several Asian societies for the treatment of infertility. However, there is no evidence that products of the plant can influence ovarian health. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of the Morus alba fruit extract on the ovarian function of nonpregnant and pregnant rats. The study showed that in rats Morus alba fruit extract stimulates follicular stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH), estrogen, and progesterone productions that peaked at 8 days of treatment. The effect was dose-dependent with hormone production increasing with increase in dose of the extract. The Graafian follicles were fully matured, and the number increased with increase in dose of the extract. The uterus of pregnant rats contained several embryos that gave birth to the full-term offspring without abortion or embryonic abnormalities. In conclusion, the Morus alba fruit extract can be used to induce superovulation to cause multiple pregnancies. Thus, the Morus alba fruit extract has potential to be developed into a compound for the treatment of female infertility.

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