Abstract

PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA AND CURCUMA LONGA ON CALCIUM ION AND UTERUS OF ENDOSULFAN EXPOSED MICE

Smriti Rupam, Ranjit Kumar*, Arun Kumar and Ashok Ghosh

Abstract

Agriculture has made remarkable progress in the past few decades withthe use of agrochemicals. Pesticides, fertilizers and improved seedvarieties have contributed to substantial increases in crop yields.Despite of these benefits, pesticide uses are accompanied by potentialrisks to the environment and human health. Prolonged pesticideexposure may cause liver malfunction, immune malfunction,neurologic impairments and reproductive effects. Medicinal plantshave been used by people of all cultures for treatment of differentdiseases and toxicity since many decades. Thus the present work isdesigned to study the effect of Withania somnifera and Curcuma longaagainst endosulfan induced toxicity on uterus of mice. Treatment groups were administeredEndosulfan 3 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage method for 8 weeks followed by 8 weeksadministration of Withania somnifera and Curcuma longa respectively. Calcium ion levelswere increased in endosulfan administered groups with degenerated endometrium andmuscular layer, while Withania somnifera and Curcuma longa caused effective restoration incalcium ion level and muscular layer of uterus. Thus it is concluded from the entire study thatendosulfan causes degeneration in endometrium leading to spontaneous miscarriages. It alsocauses degeneration in myometrium and increase in calcium level leading to impropermuscular rhythm causing infertility in female. While Curcuma longa causes effectiverestoration in calcium ion and muscular layer of uterus, Withania somnifera also causesrestoration in calcium ion and endometrium layer. Myometrium and uterine glands are alsorestored effectively. Withania somnifera causes more effective restoration than Curcumalonga on uterus of mice leading to normal fetus development and growth in uterus.

Keywords: Calcium, Perimetrium, Myometrium, Immune malfunction, Miscarriages.