This study investigated the protective effect of vitamin C against ovarian histological changes induced by aqueous extract of Garcinia kola seed in adult female Wistar rats. Thirty healthy female Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 250 g were randomly assigned to five treatment groups. The control group received distilled water, while the treatment groups received 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg of Garcinia kola extract, 200 mg/kg of the extract combined with 100 mg/kg vitamin C, or 100 mg/kg vitamin C alone. A withdrawal subgroup was maintained for two additional weeks after treatment to assess recovery. The extract and vitamin C were administered orally. At the end of the experimental period, the ovaries were excised, weighed and processed for histological examination using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. Body weight data were analysed using one way Analysis of Variance at a significance level of p < 0.05. Histological findings showed that administration of Garcinia kola extract caused follicular degeneration, ruptured follicles and fibrotic changes, with more severe alterations at the higher dose. Animals treated with vitamin C alone maintained normal ovarian architecture, while those that received vitamin C together with the extract showed better preservation of ovarian tissue than animals given the extract alone. The withdrawal group demonstrated evidence of follicular improvement and oocyte regeneration, indicating partial recovery after cessation of treatment. The study concluded that aqueous extract of Garcinia kola adversely affected ovarian histology in a dose dependent manner, whereas vitamin C reduced the severity of these changes and supported recovery of ovarian tissue following withdrawal.

Keywords: Garcinia kola, vitamin C, ovary, ovarian histology, Wistar rats, follicular degeneration, antioxidant.