This study investigated the effects of oral administration of methanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (MLETO) on the
reproductive indices of female albino rats. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley albino rats (۴۲ females and ۱۴ males) were used for the study. The females were randomly assigned into ۷ groups (designated A, B, C, D, E, F and G). Group A received only distilled water, while groups B and C received ۲۰۰ and ۸۰۰ mg/kg body weight of MLETO for the first ۷ days of gestation; groups D and E received ۲۰۰ and ۸۰۰ mg/kg of MLETO for the first ۱۴ days, and groups F and G received ۲۰۰ and ۸۰۰ mg/kg of MLETO for the entire ۲۱ days of
gestation respectively. The males were only used in mating the females. The number of return to estrus per pregnancy, number of implanted/developing conceptuses,
gestation length, litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, crown-rump length at birth and aborting rat were assessed. Quantal pregnancy, implantation index, viability index, birth index, live-birth index and percentage aborted were calculated. Serum
progesterone was also assayed. There were no significant (P > ۰.۰۵) variations between the groups in all the
reproductive indices assessed and also on the serum
progesterone level. It was concluded that administration of MLETO as used in this study had no significant effect on the
reproductive indices and serum
progesterone levels of pregnant rats.This study investigated the effects of oral administration of methanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (MLETO) on the
reproductive indices of female albino rats. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley albino rats (۴۲ females and ۱۴ males) were used for the study. The females were randomly assigned into ۷ groups (designated A, B, C, D, E, F and G). Group A received only distilled water, while groups B and C received ۲۰۰ and ۸۰۰ mg/kg body weight of MLETO for the first ۷ days of gestation; groups D and E received ۲۰۰ and ۸۰۰ mg/kg of MLETO for the first ۱۴ days, and groups F and G received ۲۰۰ and ۸۰۰ mg/kg of MLETO for the entire ۲۱ days of
gestation respectively. The males were only used in mating the females. The number of return to estrus per pregnancy, number of implanted/developing conceptuses,
gestation length, litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, crown-rump length at birth and aborting rat were assessed. Quantal pregnancy, implantation index, viability index, birth index, live-birth index and percentage aborted were calculated. Serum
progesterone was also assayed. There were no significant (P > ۰.۰۵) variations between the groups in all the
reproductive indices assessed and also on the serum
progesterone level. It was concluded that administration of MLETO as used in this study had no significant effect on the
reproductive indices and serum
progesterone levels of pregnant rats.