Improved Reproductive Functions of Male Wistar Rats Administered with Leaf Extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

This study investigated the effects of hydromethanol leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on some male reproductive functions in Cadmium chloride (Cdcl2) toxicity-induced male Wistar rats. Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were used for this study. The animals were divided into four groups (6 rats each) as follows: Group 1 (negative control), Group 2 (positive control) which received 5mg/kg CdCl2, Groups 3 and 4 received 200 and 400 mg/kg BW of extract and 5mg/kg CdCl2 respectively. Duration of extract administration was 30 days, while males were co-habited with females in the last 10 days of the study to determine fertility index. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed following light chloroform anaesthesia, while samples were collected for analysis. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phlobatannins, saponins, triterpenoids and cardenolide; and the analysis of data was by SPSS version 23. The analysed result indicated that the extract caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in FSH and testosterone levels. The percentages of viable sperm cells, sperm cells with normal morphology and actively motile sperm cells as well as sperm count were significantly increased. In addition, the fertility index in the rats that received higher dose (400mg/kg) of the extract was significantly increased. Conclusively, extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius mitigated against Cdcl2 induced toxicity in some reproductive parameters of male Wistar rats.