Some Effects of Crude Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa Leaves on the Testes and Sperm Parameters of Adult Male Wistar Rats (Rattus norelegicus)

Hibiscus sabdariffa is a common garden plant native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world, used in traditional medicine. It is mostly cultivated for its flowers. The calyces are used as a refrigerant in form of tea (especially in making the sorrel drink popularly known as ‘zobo’ in Nigeria), jellies and jam.

Aim: This study evaluates the effects of aqueous leaves extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on the body, testis weight, histology of the testes and sperm parameter of adult male Wistar rats.

Methodology: Twenty-five adult male wistar rats of 10-12 weeks and weighing about 120-140g were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) (five rats / group), Group A was kept as control and B, C, D were administered 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg of Hibiscus sabdarfia leaf extract per Kg body weight for 8 weeks. The rats in each group were fed with rat feed and water ad libitum. Administration was by means of an oral cannula. At the end of each experimental period, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the testes were harvested and immediately fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological procedure. However, as soon as the animals were sacrificed, the cauda epididymis was removed and semen analysis was carried out immediately.

Results: There was a significant decrease in body weight of all the test groups at (P <0.05) and a significant decrease in the testes of the rats in group D when compared with the control group. Statistical analysis revealed decrease in sperm count, motility and viability with a significance decrease (P <0.05) in group D only as compared to control group. The histoarchitecture revealed significant degenerative changes characterized by vacuolization in the intestitium and seminiferous epithelium when compared with the control group.

Conclusion: The aqueous leaves extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa appears to have adverse effects on the fertility of male rats especially when taken over a long period of time.