Impact of lemon peels phenolic extract on the oestrus cycle and uterine histoarchitecture in female wistar albino rats

Abstract

Infertility is a significant clinical concern, affecting a good percentage of females of reproductive age. Obesity and overweight have been identified as contributing factors to infertility in most cases. Lemon polyphenols have been reported to suppress body weight gain and body fat accumulation, making lemon a commonly consumed fruit among women of all ages for body weight management. While the effects of lemon on body weight are well-studied, the impact of continuous lemon intake on different body systems and organs is still being explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the phenolic extract of lemon peels on the oestrus cycle and the histological features of the uterus following the consumption of varied dosages of lemon peel phenolic extract. A total of 24 female Wistar albino rats weighing between 180-250 g were randomly split into four groups (n = 6 per group). Group 1 served as the control group and was given only distilled water and rat pellets for a period of 14 days, while groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg body weight of phenolic extract of lemon peels, respectively, for the same period. The effect of the extract on the body weight, pattern of oestrus cycle, and histological morphological differences between the uteri of the control and treatment groups were evaluated. The results showed that there were no significant differences in weight reduction recorded across the experimental groups (p>0.05). However, the oestrus cycle pattern was significantly (p