Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Icacinia manni Tuber on the Reproductive Parameters of Male Rats

摘要

The shift from the current energy sources in foods and feeds to a more available and affordable sources have been observed in recent times. This is in an attempt to balance food availability and utilization in the increasing population. A search for an appropriate and a less expensive energy source in poultry feeds has driven poultry farmers to research on Icacinia manni. This plant is widely available mostly in the tropical rain forest in Africa as a wild shrub with large underground tubers of high carbohydrate content. This study was carried out on male rats with Icacinia manni tuber, a product that has been observed to supplement other energy sources in foods and feeds. This research work examined the effects of crude ethanolic extract of Icacinia manni tuber on Sex hormonal levels, Seminalysis and Testicular histology of albino Wistar rats. A total of 40 rats divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of ten rats each were used for this study. The Icaciania manni tuber was extracted using ethanol. The median lethal dose (LD_(50)) of 894.43 mg/kg of the extract was estimated using albino Wistar mice by intra peritoneal (Ip) route using the method of Larke (1983). Group A served as the control and was treated with distilled water at 5ml/kg. Group B, C and D were the experimental (treated) groups gavaged with 1/10, 2/10 and 3/10 of LD_(50) respectively for 28 days. On the 28 th day, the animals were anaesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed. Blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, centrifuged and serum obtained for hormonal assay. Abdominal dissection was extended to recover the testis for histology and epididymis for seminalysis. The result revealed a highly significant (p0.05) decrease in testosterone and progesterone levels in group D compared with the control. Apart from estradiol level which was not statistically affected, other hormone levels were increased (p0.05) in group D compared with the control group. The decrease in sperm concentration was also observed in the treated groups when compared with the control group. The sperm morphology showed severe damage on sperm especially at the neck and head region in the treated group compared to control group. Sperm motility was significantly reduced in the treated groups compared to control group. Histologically, damages to most part of the testis were observed in the treated groups compared to control group. This study finally projects that Icacinia manni tuber has deteriorating effect on male reproductive health.