Antispermatogenic effects of aqueous ethanolic extract of Hymenocardia acida stem bark in Wistar rats

Abstract

Oral administration of aqueous ethanolic extract of Hymenocardia acida stem bark for eight weeks caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the weights of testes, epididymides, ventral prostrate, seminal vesicles and vasa differentia compared to the control. The treatment related decreases in sperm motility, count, viability and serum testosterone returned to near normal levels on withdrawal of the extract. The groups that received doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract showed 40, 0 and 0% fertility, respectively. H. acida stem bark extract adversely affected spermatogenesis in Wistar rats. Key words: Albino rat, antispermatogenic, Hymenocardia acida, male reproduction.