Background: Uterine fibroids, locally known as 'oyun iju' (false pregnancy in Yoruba dialect) are the most prevalent gynecologic tumors affecting 20 to 40 % of women of childbearing age. It is associated with high morbidity rates, high risk of adverse obstetric outcomes and a reduction in a woman's quality of life. However, there are few treatment options that are effective and which preserve the integrity of the uterus and fertility in affected women.
Aim of the study: This study investigated the safety and efficacy of a volunteered herbal recipe, 'CKNS' containing four Nigerian medicinal plants, used to manage uterine fibroid locally.
Materials and Methods: The crude extract of the recipe was prepared and its toxicity assessment was carried out using the method described by Lorke. Fibrosis was induced in rats with intramuscular administration of 200 µg of estradiol benzoate for 8 weeks. The rats were treated every 48 hours with different doses of extract, fermented corn water, or goserelin for 2 weeks, after which they were sacrificed following anesthesia with diethyl ether. Cardiac puncture was carried out to collect blood into sample tubes. Hematological and biochemical evaluations were carried out on the samples. Histological examination of the cross sections of the uteri of the studied animal was carried out. Data were analyzed using Graphpad Prism version 5.0 for Windows (Graphpad software, San Diego,California, USA).
Results: The acute toxicity test showed no death of animal occurred up to 5000 mg/Kg body weight dose. Histological examination confirmed induction of fibroid. Hematological and biochemical values of the studied animals were within normal range for rats, while the cross section of the uteri of the treatment group that received 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract had normal mucosa, muscularis and adventitia, compared with the control group.
Conclusion: The recipe was found to be safe and to effectively reverse the induced fibrosis in rat uterus.