Cell Biology & Genetics-Scholarly Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Open Access
Teratogenic and Anti-mutagenic Potentials of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Momordica charantia Linn
(2015) Taiwo, I.; Adeleye, O.; Shittu, M.; Longe, O.; Amusa, O. D.
Momordica charantia Linn. is an edible plant, used in various countries for the treatment of several diseases. For the purpose of this research, aqueous extract of air dried leaves of M. charantia was used. The aqueous leaf extract was administered (at 80mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 120mg/kg of body weight) to male albino rats for 90 days. After which, the bone marrow and sperm cells were observed for micronuclei, sperm count and sperm head abnormalities. The results from this study showed that increased dosage of the aqueous leaf extract produced a decrease in micronuclei observed among the groups, indicating that M. charantia has some anti mutagenic potentials and it is able to inhibit chromosomal breakages. Contrary to its effects on the bone marrow cells, the results from the sperm analyses indicates that it has teratogenic potentials by reducing sperm production and altering sperm morphology.