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Effect of the ethanolic extract from Fagara tessmannii on testicular function, sex reproductive organs and hormone level in adult male rats
Author(s) -
Massoma Lembè D.,
Gasco M.,
Rubio J.,
Yucra S.,
Ngo Sock E.,
Gonzales G. F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.01035.x
Subject(s) - hormone , testosterone (patch) , physiology , endocrinology , biology , traditional medicine , medicine
Summary The effect of ethanolic extract of Fagara tessmannii , wide medicinal plants used on reproductive function in South Cameroon, was investigated in male rats. Twenty male sexually experienced rats (four groups) were orally treated with vehicle, 0.01, 0.1, 1 g kg −1 BW per day of F. tessmannii (equivalent to 16.67 g, 33.33 g, 50 g, 66.66 g kg −1 dry raw material) for 14 days, the upper limit dose without any clinical sign of toxicity was 2 g kg −1 . Fagara tessmannii extract negatively affected weight of accessory organs and significantly affected body weight gain at dose 1 g kg −1 ( P < 0.05) in treated rats. The weight of epididymis and seminal vesicle significantly decreased at low doses (0.01 g kg −1 ) while the prostate weight decreased at all doses ( P < 0.05). The transit of spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis significantly increased at lower dose of 0.01 g kg −1 ( P < 0.05). In addition, F. tessmannii extract affected neither daily sperm production (DSP) and DSP per g nor sperm count in vas deferens and epididymis. The length of stages IX–I of the seminiferous tubule and serum testosterone level increased dose‐dependently following 14 days of treatment ( P < 0.05). The results suggest that F. tessmannii , 14 days after treatment, may improve spermatogenesis, testosterone level and sperm transit in cauda epididymidis but negatively impair reproductive organ activities.