Fertility enhancing effects of methanolic leaf extract of Dracaena arborea in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

The effects of methanolic extract of Dracaena arborea on mean testicular weight, mean cauda epididymal sperm reserve, and testicular morphology were evaluated. A total of sixty mature male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups. The first group (A) received distilled water while the other two groups (B and C) received orally the methanolic leaf extracts of Dracaena arborea in two doses (100 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) daily for 84 days. Following oral administration of the extract, mean testicular weight, mean cauda epididymal sperm reserve, and testicular morphology were determined on days 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. The extract produced a significant and dose-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in the sperm number. There was also a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the mean testicular weights on days 70 and 84 of the extract administration. The testicular morphology remained unchanged while further testicular histology examination revealed increased spermatogenesis. It was concluded that the methanolic leaf extract of D. arborea has fertility enhancing properties.

Keywords

• spermatogenesis
• sperm number
• testicular weight
• morphology