Estrogenic and anxiolytic effects of the decoction of stem bark of Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC (Meliaceae) in ovariectomised Wistar rats

Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC (Meliaceae) is a plant used in Cameroon to alleviate vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women and is also known to have anxiolytic properties.This work was designed to evaluate estrogen-like effects of this plant on primary estrogens targets of ovariectomized adult rats, as well as to evaluate its anxiolytic activities in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. In the 3-day uterotrophic assay, the extract increased (p u003c 0.01) the size of the vaginal epithelia and stimulated the acini differentiation of the mammary gland. In the EPM test, the extract increased the percentage of number of entries (p u003c0.05; p u003c0.01) and the percentage of time spent (p u003c 0.05) into open arms.Italso induced a decrease in percentage of number of entries (p u003c 0.05; p u003c 0.01) and the percentage of time spent (p u003c 0.05) into closed arms. The extract also induced an increase of total arms entries (p u003c 0.05; p u003c 0.01) and rearing (p u003c 0.05). Moreover, there was a decrease of defecation and grooming (p u003c 0.05; p u003c 0.01). These results suggest that K. anthotheca is endowed with estrogenic and anxiolytic properties, likely due to the presence of some estrogen-like compounds.