The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2024; 13(1):37-42 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2024.13106

Research Article

Phytochemical screening and effects on spermatogenesis of extracts from leaves of Flueggea virosa (Roxb, ex Willd.) Royle and Heliotropium indicum L., two plants used against infertility in North of Ivory Cost

Soro Tinnèlo¹ , Kamagaté Tidiane^1,2 , Touré Abdoulaye^1,2 , Méité Souleymane³ , Kablan Ahmont Landry Claude^1,4 , Coulibaly Adama⁵

Soro Tinnèlo,Kamagaté Tidiane,Touré Abdoulaye,Méité Souleymane,Kablan Ahmont Landry Claude,Coulibaly Adama

1. Biotechnology and Valorization of Agroresources and Natural Substances Laboratory, Peleforo GON COULIBALY University, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
2. Biochimical Parmacodynamy Laboratory, Félix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
3. Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Institut Pasteur of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
4. Organic Chemistry and Natural Substances Laboratory, Félix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
5. Biochemical Pharmacodynamy Laboratory, Biosciences Department, Felix Houphouët-Boigny University of Cocody, PO Box 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 18th November, 2024 / Accepted: 18th February, 2024

Abstract

Male infertility constitutes a public health problem today in developing countries. But populations are faced with very high costs and difficult access to specialized centers in order to benefit from quality care. These obstacles lead couples in distress to turn to medicinal plants to treat possible causes of infertility. The aims of this study is to evaluated effects of Flueggea virosa and Heliotropium indicum, two plants from northern Ivory Coast on spermatogenesis in Wistar rats male. Aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of the two plants leaves were first analysed through phytochemical screening by the staining and precipitation methods. Then effects of their two aqueous extracts were evaluated on spermatogenesis in Wistar rats. Each extract was administrated at concentration of 100 mg/kg body weight orally to test Wistar rats. A reference standard fertilizer product, Fertilo Forte Denk (FFD) was used at 5 mg/kg body weight as positive control to treat Wistar rats. After 30 and 60 days of treatment, mobility, viability, density and morphology of rat’s spermatozoa were evaluated by observation under an optical microscope.  Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, gallic tannins, catechic tannins, alkaloids and saponosides in all the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of F. virosa and H. indicum. For spermatogenesis effects in Wistar rats, the study highlights that aqueous extracts from leaves of F. virosa and H. indicum induce an increase in the number, an improvement of the mobility and viability of spermatozoa after 60 days of treatment. But this increase is more significant (P < 0.001) in rats treated with F. virosa compared to control and group treated with FFD. According to these results, aqueous extracts from F. virosa and H. indicum leaves improve quality of sperm in rats. These data might justify the use of these two plants in treatment of certain cases of male infertility.