Lubumbashi's medicinal plants against female infertility and the beneficial effects of Parinari curatellifolia Planch. Ex Benth., in the letrozole induced polycystic ovary syndrome in the female albino rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Medicinal plants used to treat female infertility in Lubumbashi have not been listed or pharmacologically studied for this disease, implying a notable shortcoming in an era of evidence-based medicine promotion.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to (i) list the medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners in Lubumbashi to treat female infertility; (ii) to assess the effects of Parinari curatellifollia Planch. ex Benth. (Chrysobalanaceaese) on the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); and (iii) to elucidate its phytochemical composition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted among the Lubumbashi traditional practitioners commonly consulted for female infertility. The hydroethanolic extract from the P. curatellifolia root bark (the most cited plant species) was tested on female albino rats in which PCOS was induced by letrozole. The extract effects were assessed based on the corrections observed in the extract-treated groups regarding weight, hormonal, metabolic, and hepatic disturbances, compared to the healthy and clomiphene-treated groups. In addition, the extract's free radical scavenging activity and major phytochemical groups were evaluated.

RESULTS: 32 traditional healers (34.4 % women, mean age 53.22 ± 12.25 years, mean seniority 20.72 ± 7.34 years), claiming to be consulted at least twice a week for female infertility, were interviewed. A total of 27 plant species were listed in 31 recipes used to treat female infertility in Lubumbashi. Parinari curatellifolia was the most cited (40.6 %), and the ingredient in 11 recipes, less harmful, but also not yet pharmacologically studied against female infertility and PCOS. Roots are the most widely used part of plant, prepared by maceration, decoction, or infusion, and administered mainly orally; unit doses being typically measured using the glass. The hydroethanolic extract of P. curatellifolia root bark showed the beneficial effects normalizing serum levels of estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, LH, and FSH, as well as blood glucose and lipid profiles, to levels comparable or superior to clomiphene (positive control), mainly in the group treated with the 500 mg/kg/d extract. In addition, this extract demonstrated strong free radical scavenging activity like that of quercetin, and significantly corrected the hepatic disturbances while clomiphene worsened its. Mineral analysis highlighted elements that could have a positive (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) or negative (Cd, Pb) impact on female fertility, but whose ingested doses were below daily requirements and acceptable limits respectively. Phytochemical screening detected anthocyanins, flavonoids, gallic and catechin tannins, quinones, triterpenes, steroids, and saponins, probably involved in the observed pharmacological activities.

CONCLUSION: Various plant species have been identified as being used alone or combined to treat female infertility in Lubumbashi. The hydroethanolic extract of P. curatellifolia root bark shown the beneficial effects against PCOS correcting the related hormonal and metabolic disturbances, as well as neutralization of the free radicals.