Planta Med 2013; 79 - PE9
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1352028

The effect of Tetracarpidium conophorum Mull. Arg. Hutch. & Dalziel (Euphorbiaceae) seed extracts on testicular function in male albino rats

JO Ezekwesili-Ofili 1, CB Nwokeocha 1, KC Amuta 1, CO Anagonye 1
  • 1Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Faculty of Biosciences, PMB 5025, Awka, Nigeria

The effects of extracts of Tetracarpidium conophorum Mull. Arg. Hutch and Dalziel (Euphorbiaceae) or African walnut seeds were investigated on testicular function in male albino rats. Four different groups of animals (A – D) were administered with daily oral doses (200 mg/kg body weight) of extracts of n-hexane, chloroform, methanol and water respectively for 21 days. The control group (E) received equivalent volumes of normal saline. The animals were sacrificed after the 14th and 21st days of treatment. Testicular function was determined by serum testosterone levels by ELISA method, testicular weight, semen analysis (1, 2) and histological examination of the testes by H and E stain using Bouins fixative. Results indicated that n-hexane extract caused a significant increase in testosterone levels (p < 0.05) in a time dependent manner, while the methanol and water extracts caused decreases but no change in the chloroform extract-treated group. The body and testicular weights were increased above control values (p < 0.05). The superiority of the semen profile was in the order of groups treated with n-hexane>chloroform>water>methanol. Histological examination showed profound increases in spermatogenesis in the n-hexane treated group, while the methanol treated group showed deceases when compared with the control. This study therefore indicated that the n-hexane fraction of T. conophorum seeds probably has the ability to increase fertility in male rats and thus lends credence to the ethnobotanical claims in South Eastern Nigeria that ingestion of the seeds boosts male fertility and sexual performance.

References:

[1] Slott, V., Suarez, J. and Perreault, S. (1991). Rat sperm motility analyses: methodologic considerations. Reproduct. Toxicolol 5: 449 – 458.

[2] Robb, G. Amman, R. and Killian, G. (1978). Daily sperm production anmd epididymal reserves of pubertal and adultbrats. J. Repro. Fert.54:102 – 107