Comparative Effect of Aqueous Extract of P. Guajava Leaves and Ascorbic Acid on Serum Sex Hormones Levels in Male and Female Rats

Abstract

Psidium guajava has a rich ethnomedicinal history, particularly in the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, 200mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of P. guajava leaves(AEPGL) and ascorbic acid(vitC) were administered orally to male and female rats daily, for 30 days, to assess their respective effect on the male and female reproductive functions, using serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH), estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. The results of this study showed that treatment of rats with AEPGL and vitC, respectively, had insignificant effect (P $ 0.05) on the serum levels of FSH and LH in male and female rats, and a significant increase (P # 0.05) in the serum estradiol and progesterone in females, and testosterone in males. AEPGL increased serum estradiol and progesterone levels by 17.6 and 34.6 percents, respectively, in females, and testosterone by 38.6 percent in males, while vitC increased serum estradiol and progesterone levels by 15.2 and 30.0 percents, respectively, in females, and testosterone by 28.0 percent in males rats. From these results, it was observed that the effect of AEPGL on the levels of these hormones was higher than that of vitC in male and female rats, and that the percentage increase in male sex hormones was significantly higher than the percentage increase in female sex hormones. These observations indicated that AEPGL possess a higher potency in stimulating the secretion of sex hormones than vitC, and that the effect is more significant in male than female rats; hence, AEPGL may be recommended for males with various reproductive dysfunctions.