Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used against Infertility in the Nyong and So’o Division (Cameroon) and Pro-fertilizing Activities of Mammea africana (Clusiaceae) Aqueous Extract Rats

Background: World-renowned as primary healthcare, traditional medicine often represents the only therapeutic resource for many communities with very low incomes, although it shows valuable benefits. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the medicinal plants used to treat infertility in the Nyong & So’o Division (Cameroon) and the effect of Mammea africana, the most commonly used medicinal plant extract, on reproductive parameters in female rats.

Methods: First, a transversal and analytic investigation using semi-structured interviews was conducted on a sample of 22 traditional healers. Secondly, two pharmacological assays were carried out to evaluate M. africana aqueous extract activities in 8-10-week-old female Wistar rats. During 14 days, non-ovariectomized (Novx) mice were given distilled water (DW) at 10 mL/kg and M. africana extract at 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg. In the end, cervical smears were realized, animals were sacrificed, and extract activities were evaluated on reproductive parameters. The estrogenic activities of M. africana extract were assessed on estrogenic-dependent tissues per os in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats in the second assay. They received respectively distilled water (DW), estradiol valerate (E2V) at 1 mg/kg, and the extract at the aforesaid doses, and 3 groups were co-treated with E2V (0.75 mg/kg) and the extract. A sham-operated group received DW

Results: Ethnobotanical investigation revealed that 20 species of plant belonging to 13 different families are used to treat infertility. Mammea africana was the most used plant and its extract at 80 mg/kg aqueous extract induced a significant increase (p <0.001) of FSH, LH, and estradiol in Novx rats compared to control. Furthermore, the extract induced the maturation of ovarian follicles. M. africana extract exhibited also estrogenic activities in Ovx rats. Indeed, M. africana aqueous extract induced the formation of stratum corneum in the vagina of Ovx rats. E2V activities at 0.75 mg/kg were maximized by M. africana extract.

Conclusion: To sum up, many species are used in the Nyong & So’o Division to manage reproductive failure. Among them, Mammea africana is the most commonly used and possesses estrogenic-like activities.