Objectives The use of Spathodea campanulata in folklore medicine for the management of reproductive disorders has been poorly reported. We sought to investigate the protective potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of S. campanulata stem bark extract (EFSC) on lead acetate-induced (LA) testicular toxicity in male rats. Methods Animals during a 28 days treatment received dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.1%), LA (20 mg/kg), and EFSC (200 mg/kg). Others received EFSC only (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg) 1 h prior to LA (20 mg/kg) administration. Results LA administration decreased sperm counts and motility by 36.39 and 40.69% respectively in rats. Also, LA-untreated rats showed elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total proteins in testis (260, 33%) and epididymis (62, 29%) respectively. However, EFSC (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) administrations improved sperm morphological characteristics as well as antioxidant status in LA-treated rats. EFSC (400 mg/kg) showed improved testis seminiferous tubules that were almost normal in the LA-treated rats. Further, EFSC contains a high 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester. Conclusions Overall, evidence by LA-induced testicular toxicity, EFSC provides chemopreventive roles via antioxidant mechanisms.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is the highest cause of mortality worldwide in children under the age of 5 years, with the highest mortalities occurring in low-to-middle income countries. Treatment can involve use of unregulated herbal medication and antibiotics. A cross sectional study was carried out to investigate the use of antibiotics and traditional herbal medications in the management of AGE among Yòrùbá-speaking communities in Kwara State, Nigeria. Our findings suggest habitual use of antibiotics (54.6%) and herbal medication (42.5%) in the management of AGE with high levels of self-prescription of antibiotics (21.7%) and herbal medications (36.2%) within the community. Ethanolic extracts of selected herbal plants reported (i.e. Aristolochia ringens, Azadirachta indica, Chromolaena odorata, Etanda Africana, Ficus capensis, Ficus vogelii, Mangifera indica, Momordica charantia, Ocimum gratisimum, Senna alata, Sorghum bicolor and Vernonia amygdalina) were investigated for antibacterial properties, using bacteria known to be causative agents of AGE. Our findings showed that, with exception of Ficus vogelii, which enhanced bacterial growth, the plant extracts reported all showed some antibacterial activity. We further discuss our findings within a regulatory context, with the aim to guide the use of traditional and herbal medication in low-to medium income countries (LMICs) and reduce the potential risks associated with the development of antimicrobial resistance.

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