Full Length Research Paper

LDH and G-6PDH activities in the ovaries of adult female Wistar rats following the administration of aqueous extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves

A. J. David¹, G. A. Adefolaju¹*, B. U. Enaibe¹, M. S. Ajao² and E. A. Caxton-Martins¹

¹Anatomy Department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

²School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adefolaju.ga@unilorin.edu.ng,  adefolajugbenga@yahoo.com,  adefolajugbenga@gmail.com.  Tel: +2348053621122, +2347037761906.

Accepted 3 February, 2009

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of aqueous extracts of neem (Azadirachta Indica) leaves (which have been documented for its antifertility effect on experimental animals) on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in the ovaries of adult female wistar rats. Twenty four adult female wistar rats weighing 200 ± 10 g were divided into three groups A, B and C of eight animals each. Groups A and B were given 3 and 6 mg/kg body weight of extract respectively and the control group was given water orally for 21 days, at the end of which the animals were sacrificed and their ovaries assayed spectrophotometrically for the activities of G-6PDH and LDH. There was significant (p = 0.046) decrease in G-6-PDH and significant (p = 0.047) increase in LDH enzyme activities in the administered groups. The results indicate that extracts of neem which is widely consumed for a variety of ailments alters carbohydrate metabolism in the ovarian tissue.

Key words: Neem, ovary, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH).