Short Communication

Sperm quality of male rats treated with aqueous extract of Enantia chlorantha stem bark

Toyin M. Salman¹* and Ayoade A. Adesokan²

¹Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

²Medical Biochemistry Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: drsalman111@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348032337422

Accepted 26 October, 2007

The effects of aqueous extract of Enantia chlorantha were studied on sperm motility, viability and counts in adult albino rats. Oral administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract daily for a week caused dose-dependent changes in the sperm motility and viability without a significant change in the sperm counts. There was a significant increase in sperm motility and viability (P <0.05) and an insignificant increase in sperm counts at 50 mg/kg body weight. However, an insignificant increase (P >0.05) in sperm motility, and viability was observed at 100 mg/kg body weight. The results suggest that low doses of E. chlorantha could improve sperm quality.

Key words: Enantia chlorantha, Aqueous extract, sperm quality, albino rats.