Case Study

EFFECTS OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM AND GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM ON FERTILITY PARAMETERS: A CASE FOR BI-HERBAL FORMULATIONS

Ezeonwu Valentine Ugonna

Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Yola, Nigeria

Email: ezeonwuvu905f@gmail.com

Accepted 22 March, 2013

Abstract

The effect of aqueous extracts of O.gratissimum, G.latifolium and a bi-herbal formulation of both herbs on epididymal sperm characteristics and testosterone levels in male albino rats were investigated. After 6 weeks of treatment at various doses, Ocimum gratissimumand Gongronema latifolium showed not only an appreciable dose dependent morphological changes but also decreases in sperm motility, sperm count, and sperm viability at p<0.05 when compared against the control. There was a moderate change in the groups treated with the bi-herbal formulation at similar doses when compared with the control as against the mono-extracts which had a more pronounced negative effects. The testosterone levels were appreciably similar across all groups. These findings suggest that an extended treatment of Ocimum gratissimum or Gongronema latifolium on rats can negatively affect the sperm characteristics of the animals. The findings showed the possibility of protection on seminal parameters by an herbal formulation of both herbs.

Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum,Gongronema latifolium, Bi-herbal formulation, sperm characteristics, Testosterone