The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Garcinia Kola on the Sperm Parameters and Histology of the Testis of Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

The Garcinia kola seeds have in times past been seen to possess a natural aphrodisiac effect as well as have protective and therapeutic effects amongst a host of other effects. This study however evaluated the effects of ethanolic extracts of the Garcinia kola seeds on the sperm parameters and histology of the testis in varying doses in adult male wistar rats. Fifteen adult male wistar rats within the weight range of between 140-290g were designated into three groups A, B and C of five animals each. Groups A and B received the ethanolic extracts of Garcinia kola orally as 400mg and 200mg respectively for a period of twenty-eight days while the Group C served as the control group still within this stipulated time. Twenty-four hours after the last oral administration, the animals were anaesthetized with diethyl ether and dissected for testis harvesting. The sperm parameters revealed that those of Group A had decreased sperm count and sperm motility than other groups and the Group C had the least amount of sperm morphological defects. The histological results further revealed that Group A had a slight disorientation and interstitial congestion of the cells, the Group B showed a normal interstitial space with few numbers of matured spermatozoa and regeneration of the germinal epithelium. This study therefore suggests that excessive consumption of Garcinia kola seeds could lead to an increased damaging effect on the sperm parameters as well as structure of the testis and therefore it should be advised against.

Keywords: Aphrodisiac, Garcinia kola, Sperm parameters, Testis, Wistar rats.