Augmentation Potency of Ethanol Seed Extract of <i>Ricinodendron heudelotii</i> on Some Male Reproductive Hormones in Wistar Albino Rats

The quest for the use of plants in the management of reproductive hormone dysfunction prompted this research. This study explored the effects of Ricinodendron heudelotti seed ethanol extract on some male reproductive hormones. Twenty five male albino rats were used. The animals were grouped into five and each group had five (5) albino rats. The extract was processed from the seeds of Ricinodendron heudelotti. Group A served as control, group B animals were administered with 300mg/kg.bw, while groups C, D and E animals were administered 450, 600 and 750 mg/kg.bw of the extract respectively for twenty one days. The animals were sacrificed and their blood samples were collected for the assay of testosterone, Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH). From the results obtained, the serum testosterone level of the experimental animals showed a concentration dependent increase in all the extract administered groups when compared with the value of the control group. FSH and LH levels showed an increase statistically (p≤0.05) in comparison to the level of the control. Ricinodendron heudelotti seed extract effectively increased the reproductive hormones of the animals by increasing the serum Testosterone, FSH and LH levels, hence suggests its effectiveness in enhancement of the male reproductive function.