Effect of certain indigenous medicinal plants on follicular development and steroidogenesis in rats

Abstract

50% ethanolic plant extracts of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf plant) and Urtica dioica (Bichchu grass) were given P.O. in
doses of I 00, 300 and I 000 mg.kg·' during di estrus to estrus in six groups (n=6) of I 2-1 S week aged female rats against a control
group, based on LD,0 studies. Rats were sacrificed during estrus, based on vaginal smear technique and dissected out to remove both
the ovaries. Total number of large surface follicles were counted and ovaries were processed for histological and histochemical studies
using standard procedures, to determine embedced follicular population and expression of steroidogenic enzymes i.e. Glucose-6-
phosphate dehydrogenase (G6 PD) and 3 ~-hydroxy-ti.5-steroid dehydrogenase (3~HSD), respectively. Results indicated significantly
higher number of large surface and embeded follicles in Murraya 1000 mg kg·' treated group of rats with relatively higher expression
of G6PD and 3~HSD as compared to control and other groups.