Down-regulatory Influence of Methanol and Aqueous Root Extracts of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on Some Fertility Hormones and the Effect on Testicular Size of Wistar Albino Rats

Objective: The study is aimed at investigating the effects of oral administration of aqueous and methanol extract of the root of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on testicular size, testosterone, follicle- stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels in male Wistar albino rats.

Methods: A total of 24 Wistar albino rats of equal sexes were randomly distributed into three groups having 4-rats each of both sexes. Group 1 served as the control and was administered distilled water ad libitum while groups 2 and 3 were administered 400 mg/kg body weight methanol and aqueous extracts respectively. Oral administration lasted for 14 days at the end of which animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected from all the groups through ocular puncture into plain sample bottles for hormonal assay. The serum level of progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The testicular weight of the animals was equally determined.

Results: There was a non-significant (p˃ 0.05) variation in the mean testicular size of the treated and control rats, although the testicular size of the treated rats increased within the period when compared with the control group. Furthermore the administration of both aqueous and methanol root extracts of S. jollyanum caused non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in estradiol concentration when compared to the control. The levels of progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin significantly (p<0.05) decreased when compared to the control in the aqueous-treated group while the methanol extract-treated group showed a non-significant (p>0.05) difference in the luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels while follicle stimulating hormone was significantly (p<0.05) decreased. All comparisons were made against the control group. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in testosterone concentration of the aqueous group and a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in the methanol extract group was seen in male rats. The result of follicle stimulating hormone level showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in both aqueous and methanol extracts treated groups while a non-significant (p>0.05) reduction in luteinizing hormone was observed in both extract administered rats.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the aqueous and methanol root extracts of the S. jollyanum may possess anti-fertility properties in both sexes and can have some implications for fertility and contraception.