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Vol.5 , No. 1, Publication Date: Jan. 11, 2018, Page: 1-5
 Root Bark Extract in Wistar Rats&description=A decoction of the root bark of <i>Securidaca longepedunculata</i> is frequently taken traditionally by men as an aphrodisiac and may have effect on fertility. A total of twenty-four male Wistar rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) within the age of two to three months old were used to study the effect of <i>Securidaca longepedunculata</i> root bark methanol extract on male fertility using testes morphometry and epididymal semen quality as fertility indices in a Completely Randomized Designed experiment. <i>Securidaca longepedunculata</i> root bark methanol extract was administered <i>per os</i>, in four different doses of 0, 25, 50 and 75mg/kg body weight to four groups of rats comprised of six rats per group. Treatment spanned 59 days. All rats were weighed at the beginning and end of the treatment and reproductive organs were harvested intact. Paired relative testis weight, relative testis length and relative mean testis width were measured. Also, spermatozoa motility, semen concentration and percentage of live spermatozoa from the caudal epididymis were measured. Rats in the control group had the highest (p<0.05) mean body weight gain (81.00g) while rats in the treated group had low weight gains with the lowest (37.00g) recorded in the group given 75mg/kg body weight of the extract. The relative paired testes weight was highest (p<0.05) in the group given 75mg/kg body weight of the extract (0.0111) followed by the group given 50mg/kg body weight of the extract (0.0109) and least in the control group (0.0094). Sperm motility percentage was highest in the group given 50mg/kg body weight of the extract (70.57%) followed by the group given 75mg/kg body weight (64.77%). While percentage of live spermatozoa was highest in the group given 75mg/kg body weight of the extract (91.43%) followed by the group given 50mg/kg body weight of the extract (88.90%) and least in the control group (83.67%). <i>Securidaca longepedunculata</i> root bark extract may have the potential to increase the fertility of male animals. However, <i>Securidaca longepedunculata</i> root bark extract at doses above 50mg/kg body weight may not be recommended for animals bred for meat because it may reduce weight gain. Certain phytochemicals or anti-nutritive factors present in the root bark may be responsible for the negative effect.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/923.jpg)
| [1] | Chibuogwu Ijeoma Chika, Animal Science Department, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. |
| [2] | Oluwafemi Rufus Adebisi, Animal Science Department, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. |
| [3] | Momoh Ibrahim, Animal Science Department, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. |
A decoction of the root bark of Securidaca longepedunculata is frequently taken traditionally by men as an aphrodisiac and may have effect on fertility. A total of twenty-four male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) within the age of two to three months old were used to study the effect of Securidaca longepedunculata root bark methanol extract on male fertility using testes morphometry and epididymal semen quality as fertility indices in a Completely Randomized Designed experiment. Securidaca longepedunculata root bark methanol extract was administered per os, in four different doses of 0, 25, 50 and 75mg/kg body weight to four groups of rats comprised of six rats per group. Treatment spanned 59 days. All rats were weighed at the beginning and end of the treatment and reproductive organs were harvested intact. Paired relative testis weight, relative testis length and relative mean testis width were measured. Also, spermatozoa motility, semen concentration and percentage of live spermatozoa from the caudal epididymis were measured. Rats in the control group had the highest (p<0.05) mean body weight gain (81.00g) while rats in the treated group had low weight gains with the lowest (37.00g) recorded in the group given 75mg/kg body weight of the extract. The relative paired testes weight was highest (p<0.05) in the group given 75mg/kg body weight of the extract (0.0111) followed by the group given 50mg/kg body weight of the extract (0.0109) and least in the control group (0.0094). Sperm motility percentage was highest in the group given 50mg/kg body weight of the extract (70.57%) followed by the group given 75mg/kg body weight (64.77%). While percentage of live spermatozoa was highest in the group given 75mg/kg body weight of the extract (91.43%) followed by the group given 50mg/kg body weight of the extract (88.90%) and least in the control group (83.67%). Securidaca longepedunculata root bark extract may have the potential to increase the fertility of male animals. However, Securidaca longepedunculata root bark extract at doses above 50mg/kg body weight may not be recommended for animals bred for meat because it may reduce weight gain. Certain phytochemicals or anti-nutritive factors present in the root bark may be responsible for the negative effect.
Keywords
Securidaca longepedunculata, Root-Bark, Fertility, Testis Morphometry, Semen Quality
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