Abstract
Background: Natural products such as extracts of plants have been seen as a possible alternative to conventional therapies in the treatment and management of male infertility. This study aimed at investigating the testicular antioxidant and testosterone enhancing ability of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria in male rats.
Methods: Twenty-four male rats were divided into four groups of 6 rats each, treated daily with either vehicle (distilled water; 5 mL/kg) or hydro-ethanolic extract of R. vomitoria (20 mg/kg, 40mg/kg, and 100mg/kg) for 60 days, and body weights recorded once every three days. At the end of the treatment, each animal was sacrificed, and reproductive organs were dissected out and weighed. Serum from capillary blood was used for testosterone quantification, while testicular homogenates were used for the estimation of antioxidant biomarkers.
Results: Treatment with R. vomitoria extract did not alter the animal’s body weight. Instead, the extract at the dose of 40 mg/kg significantly increased (P< 0.05) the weights of all reproductive organs investigated. The plant extract also increased serum testosterone concentrations significantly (P< 0.05), with the highest effect observed in the animals treated with a dose of 40 mg/kg. Testicular antioxidant markers, thiobarbituric acid substances, glutathione, and catalase were equally improved (P< 0.05) by treatment with the plant extract at the dose of 40 mg/kg.
Conclusion: Hydro-ethanolic extract of R. vomitoria portrayed beneficial pharmacological properties on reproductive organs, testicular antioxidants, and testosterone concentrations in male rats. These pharmacological activities support the traditional use of the plant in the management of male fertility disorders.
Keywords: male infertility; male rat; oxidative stress; Rauvolfia vomitoria; testosterone.
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