Potential Effect of Some Local Antimalarial Herbs on Reproductive Functions of Male Albino Rat

Abstract

In this study, stem bark extracts of Cylicodiscus gabunensis, Nauclea latifolia and Araliopsis soyauxii were investigated for possible adverse effects on male reproductive organs and sex hormones of male albino rats of about eleven weeks weighing between 120-180g. The total of twenty eight rats were divided into seven groups (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) with four rats in each group. Two levels of each plant extract 125mg/kg body weight (BW) and 225 mg/kg BW (low and high dose) were administered to the rats by oral intubation. Group A served as the control and were fed with normal commercial feed only, group B and C were fed with 125 and 225mg/kg BW of C. gabunensis, group D and E were fed with 125 and 225mg/kg BW of N. latifolia while F and G were fed with 125 and 225mg/kg BW of A. soyauxii. The results of the phytochemical screening showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the bioactive components of the three plants. The results obtained on the reproductive organs showed no significant effect (p>0.05) on organ weight (testes and epididymides) semen pH, sperm count and sperm head abnormality among the different groups but there were differences (p<0.05) in sperm motility and sperm viability in the different groups of the rat. On the hormonal analysis, the sex hormones under this study were generally decreased (p<0.05) as the concentration of each extract was increased. Thus, this study has x-rayed the potential reductive effects of the extracts of C. gabunensis, N. latifolia and A. soyauxii on sex hormones and some sperm parameters.