Evaluation of the Effects of Administration of Aqueous Root Extract of Chrysophylum albidum on Fertility in Male Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of administration of aqueous root extracts ofChrysophyllumalbidumon sperm characteristics and histology of the epididymis of experimental rats. Forty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups of 15 rats each. Each group was further randomized into 3 subgroups of 5 rats each, according to the dose and duration of extract administration. Administration of the extract for 8 weeks resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decreases in the number of progressively motile sperm cells of rats in subgroup B3 (75.00 ± 0.00 %) and C3 (75.00 ± 0.00 %) as compared with the control subgroup A3 (80.00 ± 0.00 %). Also, there were significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the number of morphologically normal sperm cells of rats in test subgroups B3 treated with low dose and C3 treated with high dose. However, there were no significant histological changes in the epididymis of the experimental rats in all the treated groups, at different doses and duration. Administration of aqueous root extract ofChrysophyllumalbidiumat varying doses and time duration negatively affects sperm motility and morphology which may compromise the fertility of the experimental rats.