The bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baill.) Urb. Humiriaceae commonly known in english as bitter bark tree, is often sold in markets as a bitter for adding to palm-wine or gin to add flavour and potency. Its addition to palm-wine is recognised as aphrodisiac; sometimes only men take the treated wine. Stem bark air dried and ground was extracted in the cold with 80 % ethanol and concentrated in vacuo. The ethanolic extract obtained was tested on rats for effect on sperm count and motility. The effect of ethanol extracts of the stem bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis on sperm count and sperm motility at gradient doses (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) in male wistar rats was assessed. Single daily intraperitoneal injections of the extract for 15 days did not alter the weight of the testes. The extract showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the sperm count and motility with the highest reduction of approximately 50 % at 30 mg/kg. Serum concentrations of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone increased significantly. Hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions of the ethanol extract were tested at 10 mg/kg, the ethyl acetate fraction gave the highest significant reduction (p < 0.001) of 30 % in sperm count and motility. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanol extract of the leaves revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and tannins.
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