Rising human population throughout the world especially in developing and underdeveloped countries has detrimental effects on life supporting system on earth. Traditionally, plants have been used to treat different kinds of ailments. The growing importance of phytochemicals in males has been reported. Contraceptive ability of plants has been reported in several animal models. The reversibility of the anti-fertility effects of plants and its active compounds are of potential clinical relevance in the development of male contraceptive. This review attempts to discuss the latest reports on the potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males.

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Seventy two (72) sexed crossbred rabbits aged 6 months were used to determine the effect of ginger rhizome powder (GRP) supplementation on reproductive organ and serum sex hormonal characteristics of pubertal rabbits. The experimental rabbits were divided into 2 treatment groups comprising 36 males and 36 females. Each group was divided into 4 dietary treatments (BT1, BT2, BT3 and BT4 ) of 9 animals and replicated thrice with 3 animals per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The animals were fed formulated diet containing 2900 Kcal ME kg-1 and 18% crude protein supplemented with GRP at the rate of 0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg-1 feed respectively. Rabbits in each dietary group were fed 50gms of Guinea grass leaf meal containing 27.6% CF (dry matter basis) occasionally as additional fibre sources. Feed and water were offered ad libitum and the study lasted for 10 weeks. Testosterone values of BT (5.83 ng mL-1) and BT (6.28 ng mL-1) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels of BT (1.15 mIU mL-1) were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by ginger rhizome powder. Bucks on BT3 and BT4 had lower luteinizing hormone (LH) level than the BT1 bucks. For the females, FSH and LH values ranged significantly (p<0.05) from 0.90 to 2.05 mIU mL-1 and 0.90 to 3.15 mIU mL-1 respectively. The 17â - estradiol and progesterone levels also ranged significantly (p<0.05) from 166.35 to 175.05 pg mL-1 and 15.45 to 16.80 ng mL-1 respectively. Ovarian weight of rabbit on BT was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on BT1 but similar to those on BT2 and BT4 treatments. It was therefore concluded that the use of ginger rhizome powder in rabbit diets improved the weight of the ovary as well as enhances serum progesterone, estrogen and testosterone levels.

Evaluation of palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) as organic mineral supplement on broiler chicks performance was conducted. Ninety six Arbor Acre day old chicks were randomly assigned in 3 replicates of eight birds per replicate to four experimental diets containing graded levels of PKSA at 0, 5,10 and 15kg/ton of feed labeled T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 respectively. At 1 st week of life, the chicks were assessed for growth performance, digestive tract development, histology and digesta pH. The growth performance of the chicks were affected (P<0.05) by the supplementation on treatment groups in all parameters except the FCR. The digestive tract development shown by percentage crop weight, proventriculus weight, liver weight and large intestinal weights were significantly affected. The histological analysis of the villi shows that birds consuming T 1 and T 3 diets were more developed (p<0.05) than those consuming T 2 and T 4 diets. The pH of the digesta contents in the GIT of the various segments showed that PKSA supplementation affected (P<0.05) them except those in the proventriculus and large intestine.The quadratic function showed that only pH of digesta in crop and small intestine were positively influenced (P<0.05) among the significant parameters by optimum inclusion levels of 25% and 17.5% PKSA respectively. Therefore, PKSA could be used favorably in broiler chicks production at levels of up to 10%.

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