10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Infertility remains a major reproductive health challenge worldwide, with disruption of the estrous cycle contributing to impaired female reproductive function. The increasing cost, limited accessibility and adverse effects associated with conventional fertility therapies have stimulated interest in medicinal plants as alternative therapeutic agents. This study evaluated the effect of Combretum hereroense root extract on estrous cycle characteristics in infertile female albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). A controlled laboratory experiment was conducted using female rats assigned to five experimental groups comprising a normal control, infertile control and treatment groups. Estrous cycle stages were monitored daily over two consecutive cycles using vaginal smear cytology. Mean cycle length, cycle regularity and estrous stage distribution were determined and analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square tests at a significance level of p < 0.05. The infertile/extract group (C2) exhibited the longest mean estrous cycle length (5.17 ± 0.29 days), which was significantly greater than those recorded in C1 (4.17 ± 0.29 days), C3 (4.00 ± 0.00 days), C4 (4.33 ± 0.47 days) and C5 (4.33 ± 0.47 days) (F = 10.08, p = 0.002). Cycle regularity remained comparable across all groups, with only one irregular cycle observed in C2 and no significant association between treatment and cycle regularity (χ² = 1.00, p = 0.91). Similarly, the proportion of time spent in the proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus stages did not differ significantly among treatment groups (χ² = 2.24, p = 0.998). The study demonstrated significant differences in estrous cycle length among the experimental groups, whereas cycle regularity and estrous stage distribution were not significantly altered under the experimental conditions. These findings provide baseline evidence on the reproductive effects of Combretum hereroense root extract and contribute to its scientific evaluation as a potential phytotherapeutic agent for female reproductive health. Further studies incorporating reproductive hormone profiling, histopathological evaluation, fertility assessment and molecular investigations are recommended to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed effects and establish the efficacy and safety of the extract.