<p> </p><p><b>INTRODUCTION</b></p><p><b>1.1<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; BACKGROUND OF STUDY</b></p><p>Plants<br>have been considered as sources of medicinal agents, as it offers natural<br>products useful for human health. Since the existence of human life on the<br>planet earth, plants have been the source of food, clothing, shelter, fiber,<br>fuel and medicine. Since time immemorial plants are the principle raw materials<br>of traditional medicinal system that has been practiced and continue to provide<br>mankind with novel therapies (Cragg and Newmann, 2005). One of such medicinal<br>plsntis is <i>Rauwolfia Vomitoria</i>&nbsp;whose<br>discovery was accredited to the 16th century German Physician, Leonart<br>Rauwolf. <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria </i>is<br>a plant species that of the genus Rauvolfia. It is also called the “poison<br>devils pepper”. <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria contains</i><br>a large number of indole alkaloids, the root bark contains reserpiline as a<br>major component, followed by reserpine, reserpinine and ajmaline. Root products<br>of <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria </i>have been<br>found to be potent in treatment hypertension, as a sedative to calm epilepsy<br>and psychotic or mental illness. They are also used to wash Children with Colic<br>or fever as well as for skin problems such as rash, pimples, etc. (Schmelzer,<br>2007). It adverse effect include: decreased heart rate and blood pressure,<br>which is due to dilation of blood vessels. It also causes low sex drive<br>increase appetite, weight loss and stomach upset.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sex<br>hormones are natural substances produced by the body that helps relay messages<br>between cells and organs and affect development of sexual organs and other<br>secondary sexual characteristics. Estrogen and progesterone are the two main<br>female sex hormones. Although testosterone is considered as a male hormones<br>females also produce and use a small amount of it too.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Estrogen<br>is the major female hormones. The major amount of the estrogen is produced by<br>the ovaries but small amounts are produced in the adrenal glands and fat cells.<br>During pregnancy, the placenta also makes estrogen. Estrogen plays a big role<br>in reproduction and sexual development, including puberty, menstruation,<br>pregnancy and menopause.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The<br>ovaries also produces the progesterone after ovulation and during pregnancy, the<br>placenta also produces some. Progesterone plays a role in preparing the lining<br>of the uterus for a fertilized egg, supporting pregnancy and suppressing of<br>estrogen production after ovulation.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Testosterone<br>is a male sex hormone that is important for sexual and reproductive<br>development. It is responsible for development of male sex organs before birth<br>as well as development of other secondary characteristics.</p><p><b>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp; STATEMENT<br>OF THE PROBLEM</b></p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Alkaloids<br>have been reported to show varying effects on the serum hormone levels. <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria </i>has a vast<br>composition of alkaloids and is potent in treatment and management of various<br>ailments. However, there is not enough information as to the effect of <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria</i>&nbsp;root bark<br>extract on the levels of sex hormones.</p><p><b>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp; AIM<br>AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>The<br>aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria </i>root bark extract on male and female sex<br>hormones.</p><p><b>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp; SIGNIFICANCE<br>OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>The<br>result from this study will add more knowledge to our existing biomedical and<br>pharmacological potentials of <i>Rauwolfia<br>vomitoria</i>&nbsp;and this may help open up new avenues of investigation for<br>researchers.</p><p><b>1.5 &nbsp; &nbsp; JUSTIFICATION<br>OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>Medicinal<br>plants have received a great deal of attention due to their possible beneficial<br>as well as adverse effects. Some of these plants are known to possess anti-<br>fertility effect through their action on hypothlamo-pituitary-gonadal axis or<br>direct hormonal effects on reproductive organs resulting in inhibition of ovarian<br>steroidogenesis. Sex hormones are natural substances produced by the body that<br>helps relay messages between cells and organs and affect development of sexual<br>organs and other secondary sexual characteristics. Alteration in the levels of<br>these sex hormones may lead to infertilty, abortion, abnormal development of<br>sexual characteristics and sexual organs in male, hence the need for use of<br>medicinal plants as a means of regulating hormonal levels by way of increasing<br>or decreasing it.</p><p><b>1.6 &nbsp; &nbsp; SCOPE<br>OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>The<br>scope of the study includes:</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>I. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>Collection<br>of plant</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>II. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>Identification<br>of plants</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>III. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>Extraction<br>of plants</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>IV. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>Administration<br>of ethanol extract of <i>Rauwolfia vomitoria</i><br>to male and female albino Wistar rats depending on body weigh</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>V. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>Serum<br>separation by centrifugation</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>VI. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>Analysis<br>of the result</p> <br><p></p>