Fertility and estrogenic activity of Turraeanthus africanus in combination with Lepidium meyenii (Black maca) in female mice

Aim of the studyThe effect of Black maca (Lepidium meyenii) and Turraeanthus africanus on fertility and estrogenic activity in female mice was investigated.Materials and methodsThirty female mice were treated daily with extracts of Black maca plus T. africanus (BM+TA), T. africanus alone (TA) or vehicle (control) at dose 1 g/kg BW for 30 days.ResultsThe length of the estrous cycle inside the group of (BM+TA)-treated mice significantly (p < 0.001) shorten (4.08 ± 0.06 days) when compared to control (4.53 ± 0.05). On the proestrous stage, the oestradiol level for animals treated with TA (27.3 ± 0.5 pg/ml) and (BM+TA) (36.0 ± 0.9 pg/ml) significantly increased when compared to control (24.0 ± 0.4 pg/ml), while in the estrous stage only the estradiol level of (BM+TA) treated animal (28 ± 2 pg/ml) significantly increased (p < 0.01). The uterine weight of ovariectomized of TA-treated animals was higher (p < 0.05) than those observed in controls while no change in the (BM+TA) group was observed. The weight of uterus of non pregnant mice of both treated TA and (BM+TA) extract significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the proestrous and estrus stage when compared to control.The number of fetuses in the uterus after (BM+TA) treatment (14.66 ± 0.25) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the TA treated alone (13.60 ± 0.45) and the control (9.5 ± 1.10) one at day 15 of pregnancy.No significant difference between groups (p > 0.05) was observed for the two treatments concerning the Fertility index.ConclusionsTA can affect the number of embryo implantation and the uterine weight. This effect increased in association with BM. BM could regulate estrous cycle.