Effects of aqueous leaf extract of <i>Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican Sunflower)</i> on semen characteristic and morphology in male Wistar albino rats

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of the aqueous extract of Tithonia diversifolia leaves on semen characteristics and spermatozoa morphology Wistar rats. The rats were divided into three groups (A, B and C) and treated daily with 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg of the aqueous extract of Tithonia diversifolia leaves respectively for 28 days while 5ml/kg of distilled water was given to the control group D. At the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed and sperm characteristics, histology of the testes and epididymis were assessed. Aqueous extract of Tithonia diversifolia leaves caused a dose- dependent decrease in the progressive sperm motility of the Wistar rats with a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the group dosed with 1600mg/kg (62.50±7.5) when compared with the control (93.75±1.3). It also cause a dose- dependent decrease in the sperm count with a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the group dosed with 1600mg/kg (69.75±0.5) when compared with the control (129.0±5.0). Some sperm abnormalities vise headless tail (321.5±0.3), tailless head (171.00±50.0) and bent tail (3766.0±320.5) were significantly increased in the group dosed with 1,600mg/kg while histopathological evaluation of the testis and epididymis revealed varying degrees of degeneration and necrosis of the germinal epithelia cell of the seminiferous tubules. Spermiostasis and complete epididymal aspermia were also observed. Tithonia diversifolia aqueous leaf extract has significant anti spermatogenic effects on adult male Wistar rats which could impair reproductive activities in these rats.

Keywords: Tithonia diversifolia, Aqueous Leaf Extract, Semen Characteristics, Wistar