FEMALE WISTAR ALBINO RAT

To evaluate the effect of aqueous petal extracts of Musa sapientum (banana) and Musa paradisiaca (plantain) on ovarian morphology, reproductive hormones, and oxidative stress markers in female Wistar rats. Forty-two (42) female Wistar rats weighing between 100 g and 180 g were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into seven groups of six rats each. Group 1 served as the control and received water and feed only, while groups 2, 3, and 4 received graded doses of banana petal extract (0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 2.0 ml respectively), and groups 5, 6, and 7 received graded doses of plantain petal extract (0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 2.0 ml respectively). The study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy (Animal House), Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, between . Dried petals of banana and plantain were ground and extracted using distilled water. The extracts were reconstituted in distilled water and administered orally for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, blood samples were collected for hormonal analysis, including estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle- stimulating hormone, while ovarian tissues were harvested for histological and oxidative stress analyses. The extracts exhibited varying effects on ovarian morphology and reproductive hormones. Histological assessments showed dose-dependent changes in follicular development and corpus luteum formation, while biochemical analyses indicated modulation of oxidative stress markers. These findings suggest that banana and plantain petal extracts may exert protective or modulatory effects on ovarian function. The study highlights the potential of these widely available botanical materials in supporting female reproductive health and underscores the importance of dose considerations in therapeutic applications.