Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part C (2024)

Infertility is a significant clinical concern, affecting a good percentage of females of reproductive age. Obesity and overweight have been identified as contributing factors to infertility in most cases. Lemon polyphenols have been reported to suppress body weight gain and body fat accumulation, making lemon a commonly consumed fruit among women of all ages for body weight management. While the effects of lemon on body weight are well-studied, the impact of continuous lemon intake on different body systems and organs is still being explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the phenolic extract of lemon peels on the oestrus cycle and the histological features of the uterus following the consumption of varied dosages of lemon peel phenolic extract. A total of 24 female Wistar albino rats weighing between 180-250g were randomly split into four groups (n=6 per group). Group 1 served as the control group and was given only distilled water and rat pellets for a period of 14 days, while groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, and 600mg/kg body weight of phenolic extract of lemon peels, respectively, for the same period. The effect of the extract on the body weight, pattern of oestrus cycle, and histological morphological differences between the uteri of the control and treatment groups were evaluated. The results showed that there were no significant differences in weight reduction recorded across the experimental groups (p>0.05). However, the oestrus cycle pattern was significantly (p<0.05) altered in a dose-dependent manner in groups administered 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, and 600mg/kg of the extract compared to the control group. The histological analysis of the uteri from the experimental groups revealed several changes compared to the control group. These changes included the presence of inflammatory cells in the treated groups, focal ulcerations, lining epithelial thickening, and, endometrial hyperplasia. These findings suggest that the phenolic extract of lemon peels has an impact on the normal duration of the oestrus cycle and its phases in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the extract has shown some potentially harmful effects on uterine histology, which may have implications for reproductive health.