Ameliorating effect of alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) on the histology of cerebellum of levonorgestrel induced female rats

Objective: This research study was carried out to investigate the ameliorating effect of alligator pepper (AP) on the histology of cerebellum of levonorgestrel-induced female rats. 

Methodology: Twenty-five female rats weighing 110 g to 150 g were procured and acclimatized for two weeks, after which, they were divided into five groups of five rats each, and were housed in cages. The groups were designated as groups A - E. Group A served as the control group and was not induced with levonorgestrel, while groups B – E were induced. Group A and B received distilled water and levonorgestrel only, while groups C – E received Vitamin C, 100 mg/kg of body weight and 300 mg/kg of body weight of extracts of alligator pepper respectively for 14 days orally through oro-gastric tube. On the 15th day, the animals were weighed, sacrificed via chloroform inhalation, and cerebellums were harvested for histological study. 

Results: Histopathological findings showed normal cerebellar histological tissues in group A, severe degeneration with severe vacoulation (V), necrosis (N) and severe pyknotic pyramidal cell (PPC) for animals in group B, mild healing with mild fatty change (FC), moderate vacoulation within the pyramidal cell layer in group C, moderate regeneration with moderate vacoulation (V) and pyknotic pyramidal cell (PPC) in group D, and moderate healing with mild vacoulation (V) of the pyramidal cells in group E.   

Conclusion: The extract of AP has ameliorating effect on the histology on the cerebellums of levonorgestrel-induced female rats, and the ameliorating effect improves with increase in the dosages of the extract.