Abstract

G. O. Alade*, S. A. Samuel, C. A. Oyinbo and K. K. Ajibesin

ABSTRACT

Contraceptive options for birth control in males are limited. This has given rise to the surge of botanicals as an alternative. Several works on medicinal plants have established that botanicals can effectively induce sterility in laboratory animals. Senna alata (L.) Roxb (Leguminosae) is a popular plant whose traditional claim as an abortifacient has been validated. Its flower has also been shown to reduce sperm count and motility. The study was aimed at exploring the impact of the ethanol extract of S. alata leaf on the histology of the testes and sperm parameters in male Wistar rats by employing standard procedure. Twenty four (24) adult male rats which were randomly assigned into four groups; control group (I) and three test groups (II - IV) (n=6/group). Rats in group I were given distilled water while those in Groups II - IV received 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg of the S. alata leaf extract, respectively for a period of 20 days. They were thereafter sacrificed and the epididymis sperm count, motility and morphology were done while the histology of the testes was also evaluated. Assayed sperm parameters indicated a significant decrease in sperm concentration [44.6 (500mg/kg) and 89.3% (1000mg/kg)] and sperm motility (33%, 1000mg/kg) and a remarkable increased % abnormal sperms in a dose dependent manner. Histo-architectural evaluation of the testes indicated a depletion of spermatogonia and sertoli fibrinous necrosis and a deprivation of Leydig cells, also in a dose dependent fashion. It can therefore be posited that ethanol leaf extract of S. alata is spermatotoxic at the tested doses.