Lorestan University of Medical Sciences Herbal Medicines Journal 2538-2144 8 2 2023 05 01 Reproductive-Enhancing Potentials of Methanol Extracts of Sphenostylis stenocarpa Seeds in Male Wistar Rats 79 87 220988 10.22087/hmj.v8i2.977 EN Collins Ugonna Ugokwe Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria Flora Ebere Ogbuke Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria Vincent Chikwendu Ejere Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria Joseph Effiong Eyo Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria Journal Article 2025 05 17 Background and Aim: Medicinal plant extracts are still commonly used in folk medicine in developing countries. The seed of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) is a very expensive food legume in Nigeria. Previous studies on S. stenocarpa plant have proven it to be of an outstanding medical significance. Hence, this study investigated the reproductive-enhancing potentials of methanol extracts of Sphenostylis stenocarpa seeds in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 144 adult rats were used for the experiment. They were divided into 4 groups (A – D) and replicated trice. Group A served as the normal control, while groups B, C and D received three graded doses (800, 1200 and 1600 mg/kg) of the extracts respectively by oral intubation. The rats' gonad characteristics, sperm parameters and hormonal analyses were determined weekly using standard procedures starting from week 0 (day 1) to week 12. The data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA. Results: The mean weekly gonad characteristics of the male rats in the treatment groups showed overall dose and duration-dependent significant differences compared with the control. The body weights of the male rats significantly reduced (p<0.05), whereas the testes weights, gonad somatic index, sperm count and sperm motility of the rats significantly increased (p<0.05). Testosterone responded to the plant extracts. The testosterone levels of all the treated rats significantly increased. Conclusion: The methanol seed extracts of S. stenocarpa demonstrated an overall potency to enhance the reproduction in the Wistar rats.  https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_220988_076182a519a8faba99d3837be82901d0.pdf