Introduction

Azanza garckeana is a tropical wild fruit plant that is found in Africa. It produces edible fruits that are used as food or herbal medicine.

Aim

In some African countries such as Nigeria, Azanza garckeana fruit products are used traditionally for the treatment of infertility, sexually transmitted diseases and for libido enhancement. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the extract of Azanza garckeana fruit pulp on haematological indices and reproductive hormones in male and female Wistar albino rats.

Method

This study was approved by the ethical committee of Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria. Forty-eight (48) Wistar albino rats comprising 24 males and 24 females were grouped into two control groups and six treatment groups. The treatment groups were administered 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight of aqueous-methanol pulp extract of Azanza garckeana fruits.

Red Blood Cells (RBC), White Blood Cells (WBC), Hemoglobin (HGB), Hematocrit (HCT), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Lymphocytes (LYM) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) of these animals were assessed.  Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Prolactin, Estradiol, Testosterone and Progesterone in the rats were determined.

Results
HGB & HCT were seen to significantly increase (p<0.05) in 300 mg/kg fruit pulp treated female rats. Prolactin was seen to be significantly increased (p<0.05) in 2000 mg/kg fruit pulp treated female, while progesterone was seen to increase (p<0.05) in 300mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg fruit pulp treated male rats.

Conclusion

Results from this preclinical study, suggest that Azanza garckeana fruit extract may impact haematological and hormonal indices in Wistar rats, clinical studies would be done to confirm these trends in humans.