Effect of oral administration of Fadogia cienkowskii Shweinf. (Rubiaceae) ethanol root extract on some semen parameters, testes, epididymis, liver and kidney of male albino rats

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants to enhance sexual performance and satisfaction is practiced in many regions of the world. Many of these plants are used with little or no scientific information about their effects on the body including effect on vital sex organs like testes and epididymis. Fadogia cienkowskii is a flowering plant whose roots are used in some communities in Africa for the management of sexual dysfunction and infertility. There is paucity of information however, on its effect on semen quality, gonads, liver and kidney after oral administration, thus the need for this study. Four groups of male albino rats were orally administered with 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight of Fadogia cienkowskii ethanol root extract for 40 days. The rats were humanely euthanized on the 41st day. Blood was collected and processed for serum biochemical analysis, while samples of tissues from the testis, epididymis, liver and kidney were processed for histo-pathological examination. Semen was retrieved from the caudal epididymis and used to determine some semen quality parameters. At 200 mg/kg, the extract significantly increased sperm count and the testes and epididymis histo-architecture did not show any pathology. The serum biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function showed no pathologic alterations; however, the liver and kidney histology showed various degrees of pathological lesions. It was concluded that 70% ethanol root extract of Fadogia cienkowskii increased sperm count at 200 mg/kg dose, not toxic to the testes and epididymis but suggestive of liver and kidney toxicity.