Sperm boosting potentials of methanol extract of Abrus precatorius (Linn) leaves on some semen characteristics in Wistar rats

Abstract

One of the major issues in the area of reproduction is male fertility. A wide range of plant-derived products are claimed to have fertility-boosting effects and are being used by a large number of people. Many of such claims however remain uninvestigated. The effect of methanol extract of Abrus precatorius linn leaves on sperm headcount and motility in Wistar rats was studied. Forty (40) rats were grouped into four groups (A, B, C and D) with 10 rats in each. The rats in groups B, C and D were subjected to repeated doses of the extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg b.w respectively orally for 28 days. Group A served as negative control and was administered distilled water. On days 14 and 28, three rats were randomly selected from each group and humanely sacrificed. Sections of the liver, kidneys, testes and epididymis were harvested and processed for histological study. The result on the sperm counts for twenty-eight days showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in the mean values of testicular sperm counts in groups treated with the extract. This is evident especially in groups treated with 800 mg/kg b.w with mean values 13.92±0.76, 16.00±0.66 and 17.00±0.25³/mm⁹ as compared with the control. The sperm motility was classified into three categories: progressive, in situ and immobile. Also, there was a significant increase in sperm progressive motility and viability at 14 – 28 days post-treatment. The result of the study revealed that methanol extract of Abrus precatorious leaves increased epididymal sperm count and motility in male Wistar rats.