Evaluation of Some Reproductive Properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa in Alloxan - Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease condition characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia. It is fast becoming a public health menace due to rapidly increasing incidence of the disease on a global scale. The present study was aimed at evaluating effects of aqueous calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on reproductive functions of alloxan - induced diabetic male Wistar rats. The animals were assigned into four (4) groups of five (5) rats each. Group 1 was non diabetic (negative control). Group 2 was diabetic control that was not treated. Group 3 was diabetic and treated with 250mg/kg of Hibiscus sabdariffa (calyx) extract while group 4 was diabetic and treated with 500mg/kg of Hibiscus sabdariffa (calyx) extract. Induction of diabetes was done with 150mg/kg of alloxan injected intraperitoneally. Extract administration which was by oral gavage lasted for a period of four (4) weeks. At the end, animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for hormonal assays. The epididymis was lacerated to extract sperm cells for sperm analysis. Results revealed that the extract significantly (Pless than 0.05) increased serum testosterone level and percentages of actively motile sperm cells and sperm cells with normal morphology in diabetic male Wistar rats. It was concluded that, aqueous calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa ameliorated diabetes induced decline in some reproductive functions of male Wistar rats.