اگچاک اودو - Department of Histopathology, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Parklane, Nigeria ۲ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
نیکراک ازوبیک - Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
پتر آکوک - Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
مایک آگ - Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
گیسوم اودوگ - Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB ۵۰۰۱ Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
ازوم ایک - Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, PMB. ۰۱۶۶۰, Agbani, Enugu State, Nigeria

Background and Aims: Cola acuminata pod extract (CAPE) is used in Nigerian traditional medicine to treat low sperm count in males. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of CAPE on the reproductive system of male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Preliminary acute toxicity testing, phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, and determination of vitamin E concentration were performed on the extract. Three groups (I, II, and III) of ۱۲ rats were used in the study. Each group comprised three batches (A, B, and C) of ۴ rats each for different periods (۴, ۶, and ۸ weeks, respectively). Results: Acute toxicity testing showed that CAPE had an oral lethal dose of ۵۰% (LD۵۰) of >۵ g/kg body weight (b.wt) in rats. Vitamin E concentration was ۰.۵۱۱ mg/l. The caudal epididymal sperm count increased marginally from ۴ to ۶ weeks for rats treated with ۸۰۰ mg/kg b.wt., but reduced significantly at ۸ weeks for both CAPE treatment groups (II and III) (p<۰.۰۵) compared with the control group (I). Significant reduction (p<۰.۰۵) of sperm motility and serum testosterone levels at ۸ weeks were observed. The histology of the reproductive organs revealed evident histo-architectural changes. Conclusions: These results suggest that the aqueous pod extract of Cola acuminata causes marked alterations in reproductive organs and shows antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic effects when administered orally over ۸ weeks in mature male rats leading to contradicting its use as a traditional remedy for low sperm count in males.

Cola acuminata, Reproductive health, Sperm count, Sperm motility, Testis