Seminal Fluid Analyses of Wistar Rats Exposed to Hippocratea africana Root Bark Extract

Malaria chemotherapy and antimalarial herbs have been linked with infertility. This study was carried to examine the effect of Hippocratea africana root bark extract used traditionally in the South Eastern region of Nigeria for the treatment of malaria on seminal fluid. Twenty-four (24) mature male albino Wistar rats weighing between 110-150g used for the study were randomly divided into four (4) groups with six (6) rats in each group. Group 1 served as the control and was administered 1ml of distilled water, while Groups II, III and IV were the test groups and were orally administered 100, 200 and 300mg/kg body weight of H. africana root bark extract respectively for fourteen (14) days using syringe attached to a cannula. The result showed a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in groups III and IV for Total Cell Concentration when compared with the control. Motile sperm showed a dose dependent increase in all the test groups when compared with the control. Beating Cilia Frequency showed increase in all test groups, however the increase was only significant (P less than0.05) in group III and IV compared with the control. Percentage progressivity showed a dose dependent increase when compared with the control. Indices of sperm cell abnormalities, head anomality, body anomality and total anomality showed significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in all the test groups compared with the control. Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell recorded decreases in test groups when compared with control group animals. The overall result showed an improvement in seminal fluid parameters which may be associated with the phytochemicals present in the herb. The result suggest that the herb is safe for use for its antiplasmodial property