CYPERUS ESCULENTUS

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) contains bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, resveratrol, flavonoids, and phytoestrogens with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormone modulating potentials. Considering the rising prevalence of female infertility and the limitations of conventional therapies, this study explored Tiger nut as a possible natural alternative to enhance reproductive health. This investigation was aimed at evaluating the pregnancy outcome study of juice formulated from cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) on pregnant albino rats. Freshly prepared Tiger nut juice was administered orally to gravid albino Wistar rats at doses of 2 ml/kg and 5 ml/kg across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Key parameters assessed included maternal weight gain, serum progesterone levels, implantation sites, uterine horn development, pregnancy outcomes, fetal biometric indices, and blood glucose levels. The results showed significant improvements in maternal weight, progesterone concentration, implantation success, litter size, and fetal development in the grape-treated groups compared to controls. Additionally, low and higher doses of the Tiger nut juice maintained normoglycemia, within normal ranges. These findings demonstrate that Tiger nut juice positively influences maternal physiology, enhances uterine receptivity, and improves pregnancy outcomes, highlighting its potential role as a nutraceutical for supporting female fertility.

Cadmium is a toxicant that is not just harmful to the gonads but also the liver. In this study, the ameliorating potentials of Cyperus esculentus on cadmium induced toxicity in Liver was evaluated. Thirty-five male albino wistar rats divided into five groups consisting of seven rats each were used for this experiment. All rats were treated orally via gavage for 28 days. The
group 1 served as the control group was administered normal saline while group 2 was treated with Cadmium only (3 mg/kg body weight). Groups 3 and 4 were co-treated with cadmium and Cyperus esculentus extract at doses of 2 and 4 mL/kg body weight respectively. Following this, histopathology were analysed for all the rats. Biochemically, SOD, CAT and
MDA activities were significantly altered (p<0.05) in cadmium treated group. Group 3 rats showed no significant alteration in SOD, CAT and MDA level. However, there was a significant increase in CAT activities in all rats. Histological section through the liver showed inflammation and necrosis in rats in group 2. However, the histology cross section in group 4 and 5 appeared to have recovered from the damages induced by cadmium. These results showed that Cyperus esculentus ameliorated the toxic effects induced by cadmium on the liver by restoring the morphology of the liver in a dose dependent manner.