ABSTRACT

The antioxidant potential of many flavonoid containing plants is increasingly being

exploited in therapy. Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) is one of the most widely used nutraceuticals

used traditionally to combat various illnesses due to its high flavonoid contents. The present

study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorative effect of co-administration of HS and

vitamin     E    on    sub-chronic     carbamazepine     (CBZ)-induced    alterations    in    semen

characteristics. Thirty young male Wistar rats were divided at random into five groups

containing 6 rats per groups. Group I and II were administered normal saline and

carbamazepine (20 mg /kg), respectively, while group III was treated with CBZ and aqueous

extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (200 mg/kg); group IV was treated with CBZ and vitamin E

(VE) 30 minutes after treatment with CBZ. The regimens were administered orally by

gavage once daily for a period of 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, four animals from

each group were randomly selected and sacrificed by jugular fenestration. The result

obtained showed that CBZ caused a pronounced reduction in sperm concentration, motility,

testicular histological damage, sperm morphological abnormalities, and increased the

testicular MDA concentration. In control group, sperm count was 61.50 ± 1.44 x106/ml, and

49.75 ± 3.19 x106/ml, 71.25 ± 7.08 x106/ml, 63.00 ± 2.67 x106/ml and 89.00 ± 9.85 x106/ml

for CBZ, CBZ + HS, CBZ + VE and CBZ + HS + VE groups respectively. Sperm

progressive motility was 61.25 ± 3.14%, 42.50 ± 4.78%, 66.25 ± 6.88%, 67.50 ± 6.29% and

82.50 ± 4.78% for the control, CBZ, CBZ + HS, CBZ + VE and CBZ + HS + VE groups

respectively, sperm non-progressive motility was 26.25 ± 2.39%, 30.00 ± 4.56%, 20.00 ±

3.53%, 17.50 ± 2.50%, and 7.50 ± 1.44% for the control, CBZ, CBZ + HS, CBZ + VE and

CBZ + HS + VE groups respectively, while, non-motile sperm cells was 22.50 ± 4.78%,

27.50 ± 1.44%, 13.75 ± 3.75%, 15.00 ± 5.00%, and 10.00 ± 3.53% for the control, CBZ,

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