Ethanolic leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on sperm analysis, hormonal profile, SOD and testicular histology of adult male wistar rats.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on hormones and sperm analysis of laboratory rats. Fifteen male rats weighing 230-250g were completely randomised into three groups: A-C. Animals in Group A (control) were orally administered with 0.5ml of distilled water once daily for 21 days while those in Groups B and C, received 500 and 1000mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively), and effect of the treatment on the testes was investigated. Significant increase (p<0.05) were recorded in the body weights and also the weight of the testis. The treatment caused increase in motility, morphology, and number of spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis. Histologically, testes in rats treated with the plant extract showed no alterations in the seminiferous tubules when compared to the control. However hormonal assay showed significantly reduced levels (p<0.05) of FSH, LH and Testosterone in experimental groups while there was increase in the activity of SOD, which was dose dependent. The results thus suggest that C. albidum treatment does not cause suppression of spermatogenesis but decrease the hormonal profile.