Effect of Ethanol Root Bark Extract of Salacia lehmbachii Loes on Male Reproductive Hormones in Albino Rats

Aims: Salacia lehmbachii Loes is a herb found commonly in Southeastern Nigeria where it is used by the locals for the treatment of many ailments especially malaria and the Nigerian population has a relatively large youth segment. This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of S. lehmbachii root bark on reproductive hormones in sexually mature male Albino rats.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria; between September, 2015 and November, 2015.

Methodology: The extract was derived from Soxhlet extraction of petroleum ether-defatted plant powder using ethanol. Twenty four mature male rats weighing between 230-250 g were randomly divided into four groups (n=6), labeled 1 to 4. The animals in group 1 (Control) had 2 mL of distilled water, the vehicle for the extract while those in groups 2, 3 and 4 received 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. Administration was orally via a gastric cannula and daily between 9 to 10 am for six weeks. At the end of the experimentation period, rats were anaesthetized in a chloroform fume cupboard and blood collected by cardiac puncture into plain sample bottles. The blood samples were allowed to clot for 2 hours and the clotted blood centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes to obtain sera which were used to determine the concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, progesterone and estradiol using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Results: There was a significant (P<.05) reduction dose dependently in serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and progesterone in treated rats compared to control while estradiol levels were increased.

Conclusion: The ethanol root bark extract of S. lehmbachii depresses male reproductive hormones and thus may impair male fertility in albino rats.