EFFECT OF CARICA-PAPAYA SEED EXTRACT ON FEMALE RAT OVARIES AND UTERI

The effect of an aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed for 7 and 15 days on the physiology of rat ovaries and uterus was studied. The possible reversibility of the induced effects was also investigated, The results revealed that the effects were more pronounced in the ovary than in the uterus. The changes in biochemical profile of the ovary and uterus involved alterations in the levels of ascorbic acid, ascorbigen (ASG), ascorbic acid utilization (AUU), ascorbic acid macromolecular (AA-MM) complexing, ascorbic acid free radical (AA-FR) formation, total ascorbic acid and glutathione (GSH), cholesterol, protein and glycogen. The increase in ascorbate turnover is an adaptation to overcome the harmful effect of the extract. The fertility test was 100% negative and the oestrus cycle was irregular with a predominance of dioestrus. The uterine contractility was increased. The above mentioned changes indicate that the extract manifested antifertility, antiimplantation and abortifacient effects in the treated animals. The withdrawal of treatment overcame the adverse effects of the treatment in ovary and the uterus and restored fertility.