The protective effects of the methanolic root bark extract of Afzelia africana on conception and fetal development in diabetic female rats

This study was carried out to determine the protective effect of methanolic root bark extract of Afzelia africana on conception and fetal development in alloxan-induced diabetic female rats. Twenty-four female rats were used in this study and were assigned into four groups of six rats each using random sampling. Diabetes was induced in groups 1, 2, and 3 but not induced in group 4. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with 250 mg/kg of the extract and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg), respectively while groups 3 and 4 were treated with distilled water (10 ml/kg). From the study, there were significant increases (p < 0.05) in both the mean crown-rump length and fetal weight (5.85 ± 0.065) (6.02 ± 0.085) in group 3 when compared with groups 1 (4.44 ± 0.065) (4.87 ± 0.075), 2 (4.54 ± 0.070) (4.78 ± 0.21), and 4 (4.53 ± 0.08) (4.83 ± 0.10), respectively. The mean crown-rump length and fetal weight of groups 1, 2, and 4 did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from one another. This shows that the extract (group 1) might have lowered the blood glucose level just as the standard drug (group 2) and prevented the transport of excess glucose from the mother through the placenta to the fetuses. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the mean value of number of offspring or litter size in group 3 (2.75 ± 0.25) when compared to groups 1 (6.50 ± 0.87), 2 (6.54 ± 0.79), and 4 (7.00 ± 1.15). Also in group 3, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the uterine weight (2.15 ± 0.15) when compared to groups 1 (2.97 ± 0.39), 2 (2.99 ± 0.37), and 4 (3.17 ± 0.17), respectively. From the above results, the extract had protective effect on conception and fetal development in diabetic females.