Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum seeds on sperm morphology and viability in ketoconazole induced testicular damage in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty eight adult male Wistar rats were divided into eight Groups of six rats each. Groups 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 were administered 1ml of normal saline, 100 mg /kg body weight (bwt) of Ketoconazole only, 500 mg/kg bwt of ethanolic extract of sesamum indicum (EESI) seeds then100 mg/kg bwt of Ketoconazole, 100 mg/kg bwt of Ketoconazole then 250 mg /kg body weight of EESI seeds,100 mg/kg bwt of Ketoconazole then 500 mg/kg bwt of EESI, 100 mg/kg body weight of Ketoconazole then 0.36 mg/kg body weight of Mesterolone, 0.36 mg/kg body weight of Mesterolone, 500 mg/kg body weight of EESI respectively. All administrations were carried out orally once per day. The sperm smears were collected for semen analyses. Result: A significant increase in the abnormalities of sperm morphology and viability respectively were noted in the group administered ketoconazole alone (Group 2) compared with other experimental Groups (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The administration of ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum appeared to have minimized the damages and sperm deaths caused by ketoconazole which may be due to its androgenic properties.
THE EFFECT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (GINGER) ROOT ETHANOLIC EXTRACT ON THE SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF ADULT MALE WISTAR RATS
