Therapeutic potentials of medicinal plants in the improvement of semen characteristics and reproductive hormones have been reported by some authors. This study explored such potentials in Tridax procumbens which is from the family Asteraceae. Twenty-five adult male albino wistar rats were used for this study, divided into five groups (Groups A to E) of 5 rats each receiving 0mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg of ethanol extract of Tridax procumbens leaf respectively for 28days. The seminal volume and concentration of the ethanol extract treated groups D (5.16±0.05, 94.40±9.58, respectively) and E(5.18 ±0.04, 110.40±4.86, respectively), were higher significantly (p<0.05) compared to ethanol extract treated groups B(5.12± 0.08, 91.80±12.72 respectively), C(5.11 ±0.05, 85.60± 8.20 respectively) and control group A(5.02±0.18, 72.80±2.59 respectively). Sperm motility was higher significantly (p<0.05) in groups B (65.00±5.00), D (65.00 ±5.00) and E(86.00±6.52) when compared with group C (63.00± 8.3) and control group A (54.00± 4.18). Sperm percentage liveability was not significantly different among all groups (p> 0.05) though group E was the highest (97.20±1.64). Sperm morphological abnormality was significantly lower in group E (10.70± 0.54) compared to groups A (14.12 ±0.

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Twelve sexually matured West African Dwarf bucks from were used for the experiment. Plant extraction was by cold extraction method using hexane and ethanol as solvents. All the goats had bilaterally well descended free testicles. They were kept in standard goat pen, were served water ad libitum, centrosema plant and ration. They were stabilised for two weeks after which pre-treatment spermiogram was done followed by 14 days of oral administration of 800mg/kg ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin. Spermiogram was repeated after treatment. Two randomly selected goats were then castrated through a midline pre-scrotal incision for morphological study and histology of the testes and epididymides. Total spermatozoa morphological abnormalities in pre-treatment of 17.1% was significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the 10% recorded for post-treatment. Curved mid-piece (1.8%) and bent tail (1.8%) constituted the highest abnormalities post-treatment while curved tail (3.5%) was highest pretreatment. Mean values of progressive motility and percentage liveability were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in post-treatment (96.17±3.10% and 98.25±1.36% respectively) compared to pre-treatment (80.83±11.84% and 78.75±9.56% respectively). Post-treatment sperm concentration (2.50±0.32 x10 9 cells/ml) compared with pretreatment (2.32±0.36 x10 9 cells/ml) was not significantly different. Post-treatment gross and histological features of the bucks' testes and epididymis were normal. The work revealed that Spondias mombin at 800mg/kgBW improved semen quality in bucks indicating its usefulness as a potential profertility agent.

Fifteen plurigravida rabbits weighing between 2.0 and 2.6 kg were used for the study of gestational characteristics after pre-copulatory oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Spondias mombin. The fifteen does were divided into three groups of five does per group. Four untreated reproductively proven bucks kept separately in different cages were used for copulation. Dosages administered were 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg for groups A and B respectively while distilled water was served to control group C. Mating, pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasound and determination of birth parameters were conducted subsequently at the end of extract treatment. Average litter size,birth weight and gestation length observed in all dosage groups had statistically similar values (p≥0.05).However, it is worth noting the relatively higher values of average litter size in 800mg/kg dosage group and control (5.60±0.40) compared to 400mg/kg group (5.40±0.75) and the highest birth weight value recorded for 800mg/kg (46.63±3.55) compared to 400mg\kg group (45.30±3.22) and control (42.38±3.74). It was concluded that pre-copulatory administration of aqueous leaf extract of Spondias mombin at dosages as high as 800mg/kg to rabbit does not have deleterious effect on its prolificacy and does have pro-fertility tendencies.