Pterocarpus santalinoides and Pterocarpus mildbraedii Twigs Extracts Induced Changes on Early Stage Reproductive Chemistry of Male Oryctolagus cuniculus

Background: Male reproductive anomalies have been so challenging to humans that many synthetic drugs are presently produced to aid affected subjects. Financial impediments during treatments and possible adverse effects of synthetic drugs has necessitated the need for a natural alternative. This study investigates the role of Pterocarpus santaliniodes and Pterocarpus mildbraedii twigs extracts on early stage reproductive chemistry of male.

Materials and Methods: Fresh twigs of P. santaliniodes and P. mildbraedii were separately destalked, washed, dried, pulverized and extracted using a Soxhlet extractor, with dichloromethane as solvent. The effect of the extracts on testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, sperm counts, motility and morphology of male Orytolagus cuniculus examined.

Results: Testosterone was highest in 200 mg/kg body weight P. santalinoides extract treated animals with a value of 7.05 + 0.44 ng/mg while Luteinizing hormone and Follicle stimulating hormone were highest in 200 mg/kg body weight P. mildbraedii extracts treated animals with values of 3.91 + 0.22 ng/mg and 15.14 + 1.86 µl/ml respectively. Control had highest sperm counts (87 million sperm per milliliter), motility (90.00 + 4.00%) and morphology (9.00 + 1.00%).

Conclusion: Early stage elevation of reproductive hormones by the extracts indicates a possible enhancement of reproductive chemistry on continuous use of extract.