SILVANUS INNIH

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (Roselle) is an annual shrub which is popular in Asian and African countries including Nigeria. It is used as a medicinal plant for the treatment of various disease conditions such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia [Chukwunonso K. Nwabufo and O Olusanya, (2017) ] This study was undertaken to investigate the mitigating effect of Aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx on lead induced toxicity on testes and epididymis of adult Wistar rats. Twenty male rats weighing 150g - 180g were used for this study, the rats were divided randomly into four groups A, B, C, and D consisting of 5 rats each. Group A served as control group and B, C, D were treatment groups. The rats were fed with Grower's mash animal feed and given water throughout the period of this study (60 days). Group A was just given food and water. Treatment group B was given 0.1ml of lead acetate via orogastric tube for 60 days. Group C was given Hibiscus sabdariffa extract 500mg/kg BW for 60 days. Group D was given 0.1ml of lead acetate and Hibiscus sabdariffa Aqueous extract 500mg/kg for 60 days. This study suggests that Hibiscus sabdariffa extract has some curative and preventive effect against testes and epididymis toxicity caused by lead acetate. These effects were supported by the restoration of histological architecture of the testes