CHAPTER ONE                                                                                                                    1

1.0       Introduction                                                                                                                1

1.1.      Justification                                                                                                                 2

1.2       Aim and Objectives of the Study                                                                               3

1.2.1    Aim                                                                                                                             3

1.2.2        Objectives                                                                                                                   3

CHAPTER TWO                                                                                                                    4

2.0       Literature Review                                                                                                      4

2.1       Mucuna pruriens                                                                                                         4

2.2       Biogeography and Habitat                                                                                          4

2.3       Traditional Uses Mucuna pruriens                                                                              5

2.4       Effect of M. pruriens on Infertility                                                                            7

2.5       Steroid Hormones                                                                                                       10

2.6       Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases                                                                               12

2.7       17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases                                                                                    13

2.8       Uterine Peroxidase                                                                                                      14

2.9       Reproduction and Infertility                                                                                       15

2.10     Medicinal Plants and Health Management                                                                 16

CHAPTER THREE                                                                                                                20

3.0       Materials and Methods                                                                                               20

3.1       Study Area                                                                                                                  20

3.2       Seed Collection and Preparation                                                                                20

3.3     Experimental Analysis                                                                                                  22

3.4       Experimental Design                                                                                                   22

3.5       Phytochemical Screening                                                                                            22

3.5.1    Alkaloid                                                                                                                      22

3.5.2    Falvonoids                                                                                                                  23

3.5.3        Tannins                                                                                                                        23

3.5.4        Saponin                                                                                                                       23

3.5.5        Phenolics                                                                                                                     24

3.5.6        Steriods                                                                                                                       24

3.5.7    Terpenoids (Salkowski test)                                                                                        24

3.6      Nutritional evaluation                                                                                                     24

3.7   Assay of ovarian ∆5, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid 

dehydrogenase activities                                                                                             25

3.8       Assay of Ovarian and Uterine peroxidase.                                                                 25

3.9     Histopathological examination of the ovary                                                                 26

3.10     Statistical analysis                                                                                                       26

CHAPTER FOUR                                                                                                                  27

4.0       Results                                                                                                                        27

4.1       Phytochemical composition of the Mucuna seeds                                                      27

4.2       Proximate composition and level of L-Dopa in the Mucuna seeds                            30

4.3       Minerals and heavy metals composition of the Mucuna seeds                                   30

4.4       Activities of Ovarian Enzyme in Albino rats                                                              33

4.5       Activities of Peroxidase enzymes                                                                               36

CHAPTER FIVE                                                                                        41

5.0     Discussion and Conclusion                                                                                         41

5.1       Discussion                                                                                                                   41

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                                  43

References                                                                                                                              45

Appendix                                                                                                                                53

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE          TITLE                                                                                                PAGES

1          Qualitative composition of the Mucuna seed                                                             28

2          Quantitative phytochemical composition of the Mucuna seeds                                 29

3          Proximate composition and level of L-Dopa in the Mucuna seeds                            31

4          Minerals and heavy metals composition of the Mucuna seeds                                   32

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE        TITLE                                                                                                PAGES

1          Activities of Ovarian ∆5,3β-HSD in Albino rats fed with varying concentrations 

of Mucuna seed                                                                                                          34

2          Activities of Ovarian 17β-HSD in Albino rats fed with varying concentrations of 

Mucuna seed                                                                                                               35

3          Activities of Uterine peroxidase in Albino rats fed with varying concentrations of 

Mucuna seed                                                                                                               37

4          Activities of Ovarian peroxidase in Albino rats fed with varying concentrations of 

Mucuna seed                                                                                                               38

LIST OF PLATE

PLATE                        TITLE                                                                                     PAGES

1          Mucuna pruriens seeds.                                                                                              21

2 A-D  Photomicrograph of ovary section in Female Albino Rats fed 

varying concentration of Mucuna seed diet h&e 400×.                                 38 

Biochemical modulation of ovary and uterus in female albino rates fed diets supplemented with Mucuna pruriens seed powder was investigated. Thirty two (32) sexually matured female albino rats weighing between 93.1 g – 155.1 g used in the study were maintained in well-ventilated conventional cages where they were acclimatized for 10 days with water and fed ad libitum before Mucuna pruriens seed powder was introduced to their feed. The rats were divided into four groups   (1, 2, 3, 4) with eight rats in each groups. Rats in group 1 were fed normal rat diet with 0.5 g of M. pruriens seed powder every day for 6 weeks. Rats in group 2 were fed normal rat diet with 1g of M. pruriens seed powder every day for 6 weeks.  Rats in group 3 were fed normal rat diet with 1.5 g of M. pruriens seed powder every day for 6 weeks. Rats in group 4 were fed normal rat diet feed as they served as the control group for the experiment. At the end of the experiment period, the rats were sacrificed and ovary and uterus was collected for laboratory analysis. The seed was screened for phytochemical, L-Dopa and mineral composition using standard methods. Steroids (227.52±0.33 mg/100g) has the highest phytochemical components while saponin (0.76±0.00 mg/100g) had the lowest concentration in the Mucuna seeds. The seed contained high calorific value (1516.65±2.32 KJ/100g) and L-Dopa (3.11±0.03ng/ml). The ovarian ∆5, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Ovarian ∆5, 3β-HSD) and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activities were analysed after the period of six weeks. The histopathological section of the ovary in the rats was also examined. It revealed that rat fed with 1.0 g of Mucuna seed had the highest activity in all the four enzymes; Ovarian Δ5- 3β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and Ovarian peroxidase and Uterine peroxidase while it was low in rat fed with 1.5g of Mucuna seed. Finally, it was observed that M. pruriens seed powder did not produce any negative effect either directly or indirectly on the ovary section in female albino rats. It can therefore be concluded that Mucuna pruriens seed can be used to modulate the enzymes in the ovary and improve the structural integrity of the organs at a dose of 1.0 g. Biochemical modulation of ovary and uterus in female albino rates fed diets supplemented with Mucuna pruriens seed powder was investigated. Thirty two (32) sexually matured female albino rats weighing between 93.1 g – 155.1 g used in the study were maintained in well-ventilated conventional cages where they were acclimatized for 10 days with water and fed ad libitum before Mucuna pruriens seed powder was introduced to their feed. The rats were divided into four groups   (1, 2, 3, 4) with eight rats in each groups. Rats in group 1 were fed normal rat diet with 0.5 g of M. pruriens seed powder every day for 6 weeks. Rats in group 2 were fed normal rat diet with 1g of M. pruriens seed powder every day for 6 weeks.  Rats in group 3 were fed normal rat diet with 1.5 g of M. pruriens seed powder every day for 6 weeks. Rats in group 4 were fed normal rat diet feed as they served as the control group for the experiment. At the end of the experiment period, the rats were sacrificed and ovary and uterus was collected for laboratory analysis. The seed was screened for phytochemical, L-Dopa and mineral composition using standard methods. Steroids (227.52±0.33 mg/100g) has the highest phytochemical components while saponin (0.76±0.00 mg/100g) had the lowest concentration in the Mucuna seeds. The seed contained high calorific value (1516.65±2.32 KJ/100g) and L-Dopa (3.11±0.03ng/ml). The ovarian ∆5, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Ovarian ∆5, 3β-HSD) and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activities were analysed after the period of six weeks. The histopathological section of the ovary in the rats was also examined. It revealed that rat fed with 1.0 g of Mucuna seed had the highest activity in all the four enzymes; Ovarian Δ5- 3β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and Ovarian peroxidase and Uterine peroxidase while it was low in rat fed with 1.5g of Mucuna seed. Finally, it was observed that M. pruriens seed powder did not produce any negative effect either directly or indirectly on the ovary section in female albino rats. It can therefore be concluded that Mucuna pruriens seed can be used to modulate the enzymes in the ovary and improve the structural integrity of the organs at a dose of 1.0 g.