ABSTRACT

Xylopia aethiopica is normally used as a major spice in pepper soup for post parturient women. Their spouses are normally advised to eat the nutrient-rich pepper soup with their wives. The aim of this experimentation is to investigate the effect of Xylopia in uterine tonicity, does it lead to uterine involution and what is the mechanism of activity? The effect of Xylopia in male fertility was explored through in vivo experimentation. Furthermore, the differences among the varieties commonly used (ripe without seed and unripe with seed) were investigated. Methods: Gas Chromatography (GCMS) was used to determine the chemical differences between the two varieties. For uterine contractile effects, the extracts were applied to strands of rats isolated uterine smooth muscle preparation in De Jalon solution and bubbled with air. In vivo experimentation comprised of 60 albino rats. 30 rats were used for toxicity study while 30 rats were used for male and female Xylopia experimentation. Also, 5 female rats were used for the in vitro experimentation. Fifteen males were divided into three groups of five each. Group A was control given 2ml/kg of distilled water while group B was given Xylopia Ripe Fruit Extract (XRFE) at a dose of 800mg/kg and group C was given Xylopia Unripe Fruit Extract (XUFE) at same dose as in B. The fifteen females were divided into three as in males and treated accordingly. Result: The in vitro experimentation shows that Xylopia relaxes the uterus in dose dependent manner. Hormonal profiling of the serum from in vivo experimentation in males revealed that Xylopia reduces testosterone levels in treated males. The rate of testosterone reduction is more significant in XRFE (P≤ 0.01) treated than in XUFE treated males (P≤ 0.05). At the other hand, estrogen secretion is enhanced in the females in XRFE and reduced in XUFE. We then infer that treating women post-partum with Xylopia aethiopica is to neutralize the contractile activities of Oxytocin and Prostaglandin F_2α post-partum and to put the uterus in relaxation mode which leads to reduction of pain and gradual involution of the uterus that prepares the uterus for further conceptions without complications. At the same time, males are treated with Xylopia to reduce their libido and wait patiently for the spouses to recover from the stress of pregnancy and parturition.

Key words: Xylopia, uterus, relaxation, estrogen, testosterone