ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF HOT AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS LEAVES, CYPERUS ESCULENTUS LATIVUM AND GARCINIA KOLA ON TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN ADULT MALE WISTAR RATS (RATTUS NOVERGICUS)
Abstract
Testosterone influences various aspects of reproductive health and overall well-being. Herbal extracts are reputed for their potential effects on testosterone levels. This study investigated the testosterone-modulating potentials of hot aqueous extracts of Telfairia occidentalis (Ugu), Cyperus esculentus latvum (Tiger Nuts), and Garcinia kola in adult male Wistar rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing between 100-150g were assigned to four groups (control, Telfairia occidentalis, Cyperus esculentus latvum, and Garcinia kola) numbering 5 rats per group. Each group received daily oral administration of 100 mg/Kg of hot aqueous extracts based on their treatment assignment for two weeks. The rats were sacrificed, blood and testes were collected after the trial for testosterone and histological analyses. T-test was used to compare the levels of each extract group to the control group with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The results showed that there was no significant difference (p=0.19) in testosterone levels between the control group (0.85 ng/ml) and the Ugu treated group (1.14 ng/ml). Histologically, ugu leave extract showed sparse germinal epithelium with sparse spermatogonia and moderate spermatozoa. There was also no significant difference (p=0.23) in testosterone levels between the control group (0.85 ng/ml) and the Tiger nut treated group (0.77 ng/ml). Histologically, tiger nut extract exhibited very sparse germinal epithelium with small spermatogonia and no recognizable spermatozoa in the tubular lumen. There was a significant increase (p=0.008) in testosterone levels between control group (0.85 ng/ml) and the Bitter kola treated group (1.09 ng/ml). In contrast, Bitter kola extract maintained normal histology of the germinal epithelium and interstitium, spermatogenic cells and typical spermatogenesis. This study has demonstrated that at 100mg/Kg hot aqueous extract of Bitter kola enhanced testosterone level and testicular histology but ugwu and tiger nut had not effect on testosterone level but rather had declining testicular histology.
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