Effect of Musa Paradisiaca (BANANA) Flour Supplement on the Reproductive System of Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Infertility’ is a worldwide health concern in the developing world, affecting 8-15% of couples in their reproductive age. Musa paradisiaca (BANANA) is a crop in the genus Musa and all members of the genus are indigenous to tropical and subtropical countries. Banana is wildly consumed by Africans especially by Nigerians. The study was aimed at determining the effect of Musa paradisiaca (BANANA) flour supplement on the reproductive system of male wistar rats. Methodology': Twenty’ (20) male wistar rats weighing between 85-170g were usedfor this study and were randomly divided into four (4) groups. Group one served as the control, group 2 and 3 were treated with commercial feed supplemented with banana flour in the ratio 20:80 ratio and 5ml/kg of body weight of lime juice orally for four weeks. Group 4(Positive control) was given 5ml/kg body weight of lime juice orally for four weeks. The animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and semen samples were collected. Sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm count and testosterone levels were investigated. Resuls: The result shows that there was increase in sperm motility’ in treated groups 2 (65.00±13.23) and 3 (68.33±7.64) compared to group 4 and the control group (60.0±20.0), significant increase (P< 0.05) in sperm count in treated groups 2 (2100.00±208.44) and 3 (2700.00±754.44) compared to group 4 and the control group (1933.33±120.43), There was a significant increase (P< 0.05) in sperm mortality’ in treated groups 2 and 3) compared to group 4 and the control group. There was a significant increase (P< 0.05) in testosterone level in treated groups 2 (5.73 ± 4.38) and 3 (7.56 ±5.07) compared to control the group (1.23 ±0.32). There was a significant increase in sperm abnormalities in group 4 (11.67±7.63) when compared to group 2,3 and the control (P** 0.05). Conclusion: The effect of banana flour supplement on the reproductive system of male wistar rats was investigated and it was shown to increase sperm motility, sperm count, testosterone levels in all treated groups, while decreasing sperm mortality and sperm abnormalities.