Effects of Viscum album ( mistletoe ) from three host plants ( cocoa , kola and coffee ) on semen quality of wistar albino rats

ISSN: 2410-9649 Ojezele et al / Chemistry International 2(1) (2016) 109b-113b iscientic.org. 110 www.bosaljournals/chemint/ editorci@bosaljournals.com Human existence cum propagation and reproduction/fertility are mutual inclusive. It is understandable therefore, that infertility is a prominent medical issue that takes its toll on social life in many parts of the world (Akinola et al., 2010). In most instances, the causal factors are multi-factorial or vague. Prominent of the factors implicated are exposure to heavy metals, extreme scrotal temperature, consumptions of conventional drugs, administration of drugs from plants and a host of other factors (Olayemi, 2010). Male infertility arising from administration of drugs of plant origin is a major health concern (Olayemi, 2010). In the management of chronic health issues, the adverse effects of these agents are often down-played in favour of the beneficial medicinal values (Erhirhie et al., 2015). This encourages repeated administration or consumption of part or whole plant products. On record are the temporary and permanent anti-fertility effects of some plant extracts in laboratory animals. Such effects include step-wise decrease in weight of parts of the reproductive organs or in the volume of the products from the organs. Other observations were changes in morphology of the cells of the reproductive organs, alteration of the spermatogenesis process (Kulsheshtha and Mathur, 1990; Raji et al., 2003), inhibition of reproductive hormone production (Muragavel and Akbarsha, 1991) leading to different changes in testicular histology (Pakrashi et al., 1985). Viscum album which belongs to the family Santalaceae is commonly known as European mistletoe, common mistletoe or mistletoe. This plant is originally native to Nigeria, Europe, North Africa, Western and Southern Asia (Jurin et al., 1993). As semi-parasitic evergreen growing on host tree, it depends on the host for minerals and water only but synthesizes its carbohydrate using green leathery, oblong leaves (Osadebe and Uzochukwu, 2006). It is a unique parasitic tree that have broad leaves such as poplar, apple, lime, hawthorn, poplar and similar plants. The chemical make-up of mistletoe may differ according to host tree species, the time of harvest and the process employed in processing it. Such chemical constituents include caffeic acid, alkaloids, amines, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids and viscotoxins, flavonoids, flavonol agylcones, lecitins, triterpenes, saponins, caffeic acid, acetylcholine derivatives, vitamin C, histamine, resins, thionins, cardenolides (Jolanta and Przemysław, 2015). Mistletoe has been in use medicinally for ages to cure ailments such as symptoms of menopause, infertility, cancer, nervous tension, asthma, hypertension, headache, diabetes and dermatitis (Obatomi et al., 1994; Grossarth-Maticek and Ziegler, 2007). Immune system modulating ability of extracts of mistletoe is also well documented (Jurin et al., 1993; Ladokun et al., 2015). To the best of our knowledge, there is paucity of information on the effect of Viscum album on male fertility. This prompted this present study to investigate the effect of extracts of mistletoe from three different hosts plants (Cocoa, kola and Coffee) on semen parameters in Wistar rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS