adult male Wistar rats

Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, with certain ethnobotanical claims stating it promotes male virility. However, available scientific research shows mixed findings about its implications on male reproductive health, with some research revealing testicular injury and hormonal imbalance. Ocimum gratissimum is traditionally used to promote male vitality, although research information on its reproductive safety is inconsistent. This study studied the effects of a 500 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum on fertility hormones and testicular function in adult male Wistar rats for 28 days. Serum Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and testosterone were evaluated, with sperm count, motility, and morphology. The findings showed that while testosterone levels were normal, the extract caused a condition of compensated primary testicular dysfunction, as shown by significantly raised blood LH and FSH (p<0.05). A considerable decrease in the overall number of sperm was linked to this hormonal imbalance, suggesting compromised spermatogenesis. Ironically, by boosting motility and lowering the proportion of morphological defects, the extract also markedly enhanced sperm quality. These results point to a dualistic, site-specific action: the extract is gonadotoxic in the testes but may have a posttesticular, cytoprotective, antioxidant impact in the epididymis. Since the quantitative decrease in sperm production and hormonal indicators of testicular failure outweigh the qualitative gains, the overall effect at this dosage appears to be harmful to male fertility. These findings call into question the plant's conventional application as a fertility booster and call for care.

Calabar stone is also known as poto in English is a clay held in a belt-like textile material that is wrapped around the waist and eaten as desired, frequently without water. This study aims to determine the effect of calabar stone on the testis of adult male Wistar rats. Twenty (20) rats were divided into four groups (A-D). Group A served as the control group and the animals were given regular feed and water. Group B served as low dose group and the animals were given 100mg/kg of dissolved calabash chalk along with regular feed and water. Group C served as medium dose group and it animals received 200mg/kg of dissolved calabash chalk along with regular feed. Group D served as the high dose group and the animals were administered with 400mg/kg of dissolved calabash chalk as well as regular food and water. All animals were sacrificed on the??? day. Body weight change and testicular weight index were determined. Testicular tissues were collected for assessment of sperm morphology as well as haematoxylin and eosin staining. Body weight increased in all groups from the initial mean weight of 171.5g, though significantly (P<0.05) only in group C. Testicular weight significantly increased (P<0.05) in group B. A significant increase (P<0.05) was also observed in the testicular index for animals in group B. There was no statistically significant change (P<0.05) in the sperm morphology across all groups. H&E staining revealed mild leydig cell hyperplasia across all groups which are a possible evidence of testicular tumour that appear in about 3% of the general population. Increased luminal diameter was seen in group D animals which suggested spermiation. It can be concluded that Calabar Chalk has no significant effect on the testes.