November 2014 Vol. 2 No. 11

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Original Research Article

The deleterious effects of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia on thyroxine level in adult male wistar rats

Osonuga I.O.^1*, Akindele R. A.¹, Shallie P.², Taiwo E.O.¹, Kukoyi B.I.¹ and Kareem F. A.³

¹Department of Physiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Remo Campus, Ikenne Remo, Ogun State
²Department of Anatomy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Remo Campus, Ikenne Remo, Ogun State,
³Department of Science Laboratory, Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: bunmiosonuga@yahoo.com, bunmiosonuga.bo@gmail.com

Accepted November 10, 2014

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the possible effects of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia on thyroxine level in male Wistar rats. Thirty five male Wistar rats were divided into three groups namely: (A) Controls consisting of five rats that received distilled water only. (B) Test group consisting of 15 rats that were sub-divided into three subgroups (low, medium, and high dose) that were given 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively of aqueous leaf extract of Mormodica charantia. The extract was administered orally for thirty days. (C) Similarly, recovery group consisted of 15 rats that were sub-divided into three subgroups of five rats each, receiving similar doses to test group for 30 days but were allowed to recover for another 30 days. There was a non-significant difference in thyroxine level (p>0.05) at low and medium doses. At high dose, thyroxine was significantly lower in the test group compared to the controls (p<0.05). The present findings suggest that aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia can have a deleterious effect on thyroxine level in male wistar rats.

Keywords: Momordica charantia, Thyroxine level, male Wistar rats.