Effects of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Abrus precatorius Linn on Body weight, Sperm Morphology and Viability in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Male factor infertility is a critical component in animal reproduction that is often caused by low sperm count or poor sperm motility. Because treatments are expensive and invasive, there is growing interest in phytotherapy. While many plant products are claimed to boost fertility, most of these claims have not yet been scientifically proven or reported. The effect of methanolic extract of Abrus precatorius linn leaf on body weight, sperm morphology and viability in male Wistar rats was evaluated in this study. Fifty-two (52) male Wistar rats were divided equally into 4 groups (10 rats per group), and weighed on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Group A were administered distilled water (Control group) while Group B, C and D received 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the extract respectively. Rats were randomly selected and sacrificed on days 14 and 28 for histological analyses of their testes and epididymis tissue. Results revealed that all extract-treated groups (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) experienced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in body weight from day 7 through day 28 lower than the control group, but showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in normal sperm morphology (healthier structure) on both days 14 and 28. Similarly, sperm viability showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in live, viable sperm cells on both days 14 and 28. While the methanolic extract of Abrus precatorius leaves causes weight loss, it appears to improve overall sperm quality by preserving both morphology and viability in male rats.