Effect of Moringa Leaf Extract (Moringa oleifera Lam.) on the Diameter of the Primary and Secondary Follicles in Female Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Infertility is still a phenomenon in the community, so consuming Moringa leaves (&lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Lam.) is expected to increase fertility. This study aimed to determine the effect of Moringa leaf extract (&lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Lam.) on the diameter of the primary and secondary follicles in female mice (&lt;i&gt;Mus musculus&lt;/i&gt;). &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This study was an experiment using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The population of this study was 45 mice and samples were obtained by a simple random sampling technique from as many as 24 mice with the following criteria: Weight 20-25 g, 2-3 months old, female and in good health. Data analysis was performed through the ANOVA Test with a confidence level of α = 0.05 and further tested for the least significant difference (LSD). &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Moringa leaf extract significantly positively affects the diameter of primary and secondary follicles in female mice (p<0.05). The average primary follicle diameter was P&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt; (92.65 μm), P&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; (124.92 μm), P&lt;sub&gt;2 &lt;/sub&gt;(150.72 μm), P&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; (175.68 μm) and the average secondary follicle diameter was control (157.17 μm), P&lt;sub&gt;1 &lt;/sub&gt;(171.33 μm), P&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; (204.57 μm), P&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; (211.11 μm). Giving Moringa leaf extract (&lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Lam.) significantly increases the diameter of mice's primary and secondary follicles due to the presence of vitamin E in Moringa leaf extract (&lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Lam.). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; This can stimulate granulosa cells to secrete the hormone estrogen, causing an increase in the diameter of the primary and secondary follicles.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera Lam.; antioxidants; follicles; granulosa cells; histopathological.