Abstract
The present study investigated the effect of oral administration of aqueous extract of Symphonia globulifera root on fertility in addition to its effect on some biochemical indices in adult male Wistar rats. After the aqueous extraction, phytochemical screening was carried out. Twenty-four (24) mature and healthy adult male wistar rats of weights between 150-220 g were used. The rats were randomly divided into four (4) groups each containing six (6) rats. Group 1 rats were gavaged with distilled water which served as control group. Group 2, 3 and 4 rats were orally treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract of S. globulifera respectively for 21 days. After the treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their organs (heart, liver, kidney and testes) were excised. Hormonal analysis which include seminal fluid analysis (SFA), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutenizing hormone (LH), testosterone and prolactin were carried out following standard procedures. The data were analysed using students t-test and ANOVA with the aid of SPSS with P < 0.05 level of statistical significance. The phytochemical screening of the extract revealed presence of major phytochemicals. There was dose-dependent decrease in the body weight of the rats after the treatment. In hormonal analysis, SFA increased significantly when compared to that of the control rats. The analysis also revealed that the blood level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was significantly increased whereas; there was decrease in testosterone level when compared with the control animals. In conclusion, aqueous extract of S. globulifera was found to be safe and showed significant fertility enhancing effects.
Highlights
Infertility is the inability of a couple of opposite sex to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 52 weeks or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse
The present study investigated the effect of oral administration of aqueous extract of Symphonia globulifera root on fertility in addition to its effect on some biochemical indices in adult male Wistar rats
Hormonal analysis which include seminal fluid analysis (SFA), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutenizing hormone (LH), testosterone and prolactin were carried out following standard procedures
Summary
Infertility is the inability of a couple of opposite sex to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 52 weeks or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. In other words, it is a complete failure of a sexually competent and active, non-contracepting couple to achieve pregnancy in one or more years despite regular sexual exposures [1]. It is a complete failure of a sexually competent and active, non-contracepting couple to achieve pregnancy in one or more years despite regular sexual exposures [1] It can be caused by low sperm production (oligozoospermia), poor sperm motility (asthenozoospermia), or abnormal sperm morphology (teratozoospermia) poor sperm quality, sperm abnormalities [2]. The plants parts used in remedies include the bark, leaves, roots, flowers, fruits and seeds [11]
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