Objective: The study is aimed at investigating the effects of oral administration of aqueous and methanol extract of the root of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on testicular size, testosterone, folliclestimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels in male Wistar albino rats. Methods: A total of 24 Wistar albino rats of equal sexes were randomly distributed into three groups having 4-rats each of both sexes. Group 1 served as the control and was administered distilled water ad libitum while groups 2 and 3 were administered 400 mg/kg body weight methanol and aqueous extracts respectively. Oral administration lasted for 14 days at the end of which animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected from all the groups through ocular Egba et al.; ARRB, 18(3): 1-8, 2017; Article no.ARRB.36598 2 puncture into plain sample bottles for hormonal assay. The serum level of progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The testicular weight of the animals was equally determined. Results: There was a non-significant (p˃ 0.05) variation in the mean testicular size of the treated and control rats, although the testicular size of the treated rats increased within the period when compared with the control group. Furthermore the administration of both aqueous and methanol root extracts of S. jollyanum caused non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in estradiol concentration when compared to the control. The levels of progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin significantly (p<0.05) decreased when compared to the control in the aqueous-treated group while the methanol extract-treated group showed a non-significant (p>0.05) difference in the luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels while follicle stimulating hormone was significantly (p<0.05) decreased. All comparisons were made against the control group. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in testosterone concentration of the aqueous group and a nonsignificant (p>0.05) decrease in the methanol extract group was seen in male rats. The result of follicle stimulating hormone level showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in both aqueous and methanol extracts treated groups while a non-significant (p>0.05) reduction in luteinizing hormone was observed in both extract administered rats. Original Research Article Conclusion:The results of this study showed that the aqueous and methanol root extracts of the S. jollyanum may possess anti-fertility properties in both sexes and can have some implications for fertility and contraception.

This study was carried out to determine the glycemic index of coconut-enriched gari which was fermented at various durations. A total of 18 apparently healthy subjects participated in the study. The determination of total carbohydrate, crude fibre and available carbohydrate, followed by glycemic index was performed on six samples of the coconut gari using the standard operating procedure. The coconut gari samples (48 hours fermentation) gave mean glycemic index values ranging from 81.96 ± 3.42 - 84.96 ± 4.90 while the 72 hours fermentation gave a mean range of 74.34 ± 2.24 – 82.04 ±5.40. The samples were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA and found to be non-significantly (p > 0.05) different when compared to each other. The low G.I rating observed in coconut gari fermented for 72 hours is an indication that the food may be good for consumption as a staple except with under some exceptional conditions. This study suggests that extensive fermentation of gari enriched with coconut could be nutritionally appropriate for diabetics.

A number of medicinal plants have been found to influence the level of reproductive hormones and thus affect fertility in the overall. This work evaluated the effects of ethanol leaf extracts of A. gangetica and A. vogelli respectively on some reproductive system parameters in male Wistar rats. A total of sixteen (16) male albino rats were grouped into four (four rats in each group): group A served as normal control, group B received Immunace (Vitabiotics) group C and D received 400 mg/kg body weight of A. gangetica and A. vogelli extracts respectively. Extracts were administered orally to rats for 21 days, after which they were sacrificed by cervical dislocations and blood samples drawn by cardiac puncture. The effect of the extracts on testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and semen analysis of the test rats were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and standard techniques. Data collected were analyzed using Graph pad prism V6 and p values < 0.05 were adopted as significant. There was no significant (p>0.05) change in testosterone, FSH and luteinizing hormones in the group administered A. gangetica plant extract relative to the control. There was also no visible difference in the testes weight and sperm morphology relative to the control group. In contrast, administration of A. vogelli extract caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations from: 1.12 ± 0.20 to 0.89 ± 0.05 and 1.41 ± 0.07 to 1.35 ± 0.12 respectively relative to the control group. While significant (p<0.05) decrease in luteinizing hormone (1.71 ± 0.15) was observed relative to the standard drug group (1.76 ± 0.05). A significant (p<0.05) decrease in sperm count and testes weight was also observed in rats treated with A. vogelli extract relative to the normal control.The results suggest that, A. vogelli extract may cause decreased fertility in male albino rats and could be developed further into potent male contraceptives. A. gangetica on the other hand, had no effect on male reproductive hormones.