Hormonal variation in gravid does after oral t reatment with crude ethanol extract of Spondias mombin

Twelve mixed breed gravid rabbits weighing between 4.5-6.0kg body weights were randomly selected to study the effect of oral treat ment with leaf ethanol crude extract of Spondias mombin on sex steroid hormones. Six were administered 800 mg/kg of the extract while six were administered distilled water once every day for 7 days at day 14 of gestation. Blood samples were collected befor e commencement of treatment and 7 days post treatment in both groups. This was repe ated 24 hours after parturition in the control group only. Sera from blood samples wer e analyzed for sex hormones concentration using ELISA. Results revealed that mean progesterone concentration significantly increased in the treatment group from pre-treatment value of 5.4±0.30ng/ml to post treatment value of 9.5±0.30ng/ml compared to significant decrease from 5.1±0.20ng/ml to 2.5±0.50ng/ml in the control group ( P<0.05). All other hormones had no significant changes in both g roups comparing pre and post treatment except FSH which significantly reduced fr om 3.1±0.08mIU/ml to 2.2±0.10mIU/ml in control group. Abortion was observed in the treatment group on days 22 and 23 of gestation, between 24 and 48 hour s post treatment while all the rabbits in control group kindled a mean value of 5. 7±0.68 kits at a mean gestation period of 30.3±0.33days. The study concluded that c rude ethanol extract of Spondias mombin has abortifacient tendency by manipulation of ster oids important in gestation.