Efficacy of vitamin C and ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum in promoting fertility in male Wistar rats.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the efficacy of ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum (EES), vitamin C (VC), and EES + VC in promoting fertility and finding a possible link between their profertility effects and their antioxidant activities.


METHODS
Forty adult male Wistar rats [Body weight (BW) 186.56 +/- 0.465 g] were randomly analyzed into four groups of ten rats each: Control, EES(G) (EES only), VC(G) (vitamin C only), and EES + VC(G) (EES in conjunction with vitamin C). Control was given 5 ml/kg BW/day of normal saline orally; EES(G) was administered 0.3 g/kg BW/day of EES; VC(G) was administered 15 mg/kg BW/ day of VC; while EES + VC(G) was administered both 0.3 g/kg BW/day of EES and 15 mg/kg BW/day of VC. All treatments were for 10 weeks.


METHODS
Independent-sample T test was used to analyze the obtained results.


RESULTS
The results obtained showed that EES, VC, and more importantly EES + VC are capable of significantly increasing BW gain, seminal parameters, testosterone level, and body antioxidant activities.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings lead to the conclusion that EES + VC as well as ESS and VC promote fertility due to both their testosterone-increasing effects and their antioxidant effects.
Ashamu
Ea
E
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Salawu
Eo
E
Oyewo
Oo
O
Alhassan
Aw
A
Alamu
Oa
O
Adegoke
Aa
A