THE EFFECT OF SECURIDACA LONGEPENDUCULATA CRUDE ROOT-BARK EXTRACT ON SEMEN QUALITY IN GUINEA PIGS
MARGRET SINGWA1, NAWA MUKENA2, NATHAN NASSON TEMBO3, ANDREW KATABA4, EDWELL SIATAMBI MWAANGA4, SHARI RAJENDRA BABU1, NICHOLAS KALOVYA MWALE1*
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
- Department of Laboratory, National Heart Hospital, Chongwe District, Lusaka, Zambia.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 17(1): 1-8 ; 2025
ABSTRACT
Securidaca longepedunculata is extensively used in complementary and alternative herbal medicine in many African countries. The plant is among the most common treatment options due to its psychotropic properties in treating a wide range of medical conditions such as malaria, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, diabetes, constipation, syphilis, fungal and skin infections. Additionally, it is also known to alleviate toothaches and headaches, and as an aphrodisiac, improves sexual impotence in males and ‘cures’ erectile dysfunction. Although its use is widespread, little is known on the mechanism of action in improving sperm quality and thereby its continual traditional application in combating male infertility. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of S. longepedunculata root-bark crude extract on the semen quality of guinea pigs owing to shared similarities in hormonal and particularly immunological responses with spermatogenesis. The phytochemicals of the methanolic crude extract were identified. The extract was administered for 34 days as 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg to groups C, D and E respectively. Treatment using 10mg/kg distilled water and 0.6 mg/kg clomiphene citrate served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormonal profiles and seminal parameters were analyzed before and after treatment. Eight phytochemicals were detected in the methanolic crude extract. The means of luteinizing hormone before treatment had no significant difference between treatment groups (P>0.05. The means of seminal parameters of progressive motility, non-progressive motility, gross motility, and sperm viability between treatment groups were significantly different (P˂0.05), apart from sperm concentration and immotility. The treatment of guinea pigs with the extract at 75 mg/kg for 34 days increased the levels of luteinizing hormone, sperm motility, and sperm viability. The effects seen at this concentration were similar to those of conventional clomiphene citrate, thereby potentially explaining its continued use as an alternative option for male infertility.
Keywords: S. longepedunculata, sperm motility, sperm concentration, sperm viability
Email of correspondence: mwalenicholask@unza.zm;
https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2025.1.1 ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)