×
Home Current Archive Editorial board
News Contact
Research Article

High doses of Uvaria chamae root extract impair sperm motility and viability

By
Godwin Adakole Ujah ,
Godwin Adakole Ujah
Contact Godwin Adakole Ujah

Department of Physiology, University of Calabar , Calabar , Nigeria

Ileri-Oluwa Busayo Emmanuel ,
Ileri-Oluwa Busayo Emmanuel

Biomedicinal Research Centre, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria , Ibadan , Nigeria

Bassey Emmanuel Emeng ,
Bassey Emmanuel Emeng

Department of Physiology, University of Calabar , Calabar , Nigeria

Patience Favour Kalu
Patience Favour Kalu

Department of Physiology, University of Calabar , Calabar , Nigeria

Abstract

Uvaria chamae is a tropical medicinal plant with documented antimicrobial and antimalarial activities. Agents with these activities are known to impair fertility. This study investigated the antifertility effects of ethanolic extract of U. chamae on male albino Wistar rats. Two different oral doses; 56.6 mg/kg body weight and 113.2 mg/kg body weight of the extracts were administered to low dose and high dose group, respectively. A third group served as control and received 2 mL of distilled water. There were five animals in each group. Administration lasted six weeks after which animals were sacrificed and samples collected. Results showed that sperm count, sperm morphology and semen pH were not affected (P>0.05) by the extract. Sperm motility (55.65 %) and viability (64.38 %) were however decreased (P<0.05) by high doses of the extract. Histopathology of testicular tissues also showed no difference across the groups. U. chamae thus impair fertility in vivo especially at high doses.


 

References

Adeeko, A. O., & Dada, O. A. (1998). Chloroquine reduces fertilizing capacity of epididyma sperm in rats. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 27(1–2), 63–64.
Bjorndahl, L. (2003). Evaluation of the one-step eosin-nigrosin staining technique for human sperm vitality assessment. Human Reproduction, 18(4), 813–816.
Chilaka, K. C., Unekwe, P. C., Chilaka, J. U., & Nweke, I. N. (2010). Studies on the anti-ulcer properties of ethanolic leaf extracts of Uvaria chamae. Tropical Journal of Medical Research, 14(2).
Ekaluo, U. B., Udokpoh, A. E., Ikpeme, E., & Peter, E. (2008). Effect of chloroquine treatments on sperm count and weight of testes in male rats. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 14(2), 175–177.
Ekpe, E., Ebana, R., & Madunagu, B. E. (1990). Anti-microbial activity of four medicinal plants on pathogenic bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi. West African Journal of Biological and Applied Chemistry.
Enin, G. N., Shaibu, S. E., Ujah, G. A., Ibu, R. O., & Inangha, P. G. (2021). Phytochemical and nutritive composition of Uvaria chamae P. Beauv. Leaves, Stem Bark and Root Bark, ChemSearch Journal, 12(1), 9–14.
Irvin, F. R. (1961). Woody plants of Ghana with special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press, London.
Lorke, D. (1983). A new approach to practical acute toxicity testing. Archives of Toxicology, 54, 275–287.
Nna, V. U., Ujah, G. A., Mohamed, M., Etim, K. B., Igba, B. O., Augustine, E. R., & Osim, E. E. (2017). Cadmium chloride–induced testicular toxicity in male wistar rats; prophylactic effect of quercetin, and assessment of testicular recovery following cadmium chloride withdrawal. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 94, 109–123.
Obembe, O. O., Onasanwo, S. A., & Raji, Y. (2012). Preliminary study on the effects of Buchholzia coriacea seed extract on male reproductive parameters in rats. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences: Official Publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria, 27(2), 165–169.
Ogbulie, J. N., Ogueke, C. C., & Nwanebu, F. C. (2007). Antibacterial properties of Uvaria chamae, Congronema latifolium, Garcinia kola, Vemonia amygdalina and Aframomium melegueta. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6(13).
Ogbulie, J., Ogueke, C., & Okorondu, S. (2004). Antibacterial properties of A. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, 18(1–2), 249–255.
Okokon, J. E., Ita, B. N., & Udokpoh, A. E. (2006). The in-vivo antimalarial activities of Uvaria chamae and Hippocratea africana. Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology, 100(7), 585–590.
Okoli, B. J., Okere, O. S., & Adeyemo, S. O. (2010). The antipalasmodial activity of Buchholzia coriacea. Journal of Medical and Applied Biosciences, 2, 21–29.
Okon, J. E., Udosen, I. R., & Mbong, E. O. (2013). Phytochemical screening and effect of ethanolic root extract of Uvaria chamae on haematological parameters on albino rats in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. Merit Research Journals, 1(2), 16–20.
Okwu, D. E., & Iroabuchi, F. (2009). Phytochemical composition and biological activities of Uvaria chamae and Clerodendoron splendens. E-Journal of Chemistry, 6(2), 553–560.
Raji, Y., & Bolarinwa, A. F. (1997). Antifertility activity of Quassia amara in male rats — in vivo study. Life Sciences, 61(11), 1067–1074.
Raji, Y., Salman, T. M., & Akinsomisoye, O. S. (2005). Reproductive functions in male rats treated with methanolic extract of Alstonia boonei stem bark. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 8, 7.
Rhemrev, J. P., Lens, J. W., McDonnell, J., Schoemaker, J., & Vermeiden, J. P. (2001). The postwash total progressively motile sperm cell count is a reliable predictor of total fertilization failure during in vitro fertilization treatment. Fertility and Sterility, 76(5), 884–891.
Trifunac, N. P., & Bernstein, G. S. (1982). Inhibition of the metabolism and motility of human spermatozoa by various alkaloids. Contraception, 25(1), 69–87.
Ujah, G. A. (2017). Effect of aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera indica on differential white blood cell count. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies, 3(10), 123–125.
Wyrobek, A. J., & Bruce, W. R. (1978). The induction of sperm shape abnormalities in mice and humans. Principles and Methods for Their Detection, 5, 257–285.
Yoshida, M., Kawano, N., & Yoshida, K. (2008). Control of sperm motility and fertility: Diverse factors and common mechanisms. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 65(21), 3446–3457.
Zhou, B., Qiu, Z., Liu, G., Liu, C., & Zhang, J. (2012). Spermicidal and antigonococcal effects of tannins from pomegranate rind. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 6(7), 1334–1339.

Citation

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 

Article metrics

Google scholar: See link

The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.