EVALUATION OF BLOOD AND SEMEN QUALITY PROFILES FOLLOWING JUSTICIA CARNEA LEAF EXTRACT ADMINISTRATION IN A RAT MODEL OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Background. Justicia carnea is a medicinal plant used widely in Nigeria which is reported to have diverse functions, including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and haematinic potentials. Aim. The impact of aqueous extract of Justicea carnea (JC) leaf in testosterone propionateinduced benign prostatic hyperplasia in male wistar rat on haematological and semen profile parameters was investigated. Methods. The experimental animals were randomly grouped into five groups of six rats each – group 1 (normal control), group 2 (induced control), group 3 low dose (500 mg/kg of JC extract), group 4 high dose (1500 mg/kg of JC extract) and group 5 (standard control). Testosterone propionate was administered once at a dose of 7mg/kg b.w. for 11days to induce benign prostatic hyperplasia. After 28 days of extract administration, they were sacrificed and blood and semen were collected and used for biochemical analysis. Results. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) values, Red Blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations increased (p < 0.05) significantly after 28days of administering aqueous extracts of Justicia carnea. There were significant (p < 0.05) decreases in semen motility, sluggishness, activeness and total sperm count. The groups treated with aqueous extract of Justicia carnea showed does dependent significant (p < 0.05) increase relative to group 5 which was treated with reference drug (finasteride). Conclusion. Aqueous extracts of Justicia carnea not only improved haematological indices conditions in the testosterone propionate-induced rats, it also ameliorated the semen profile, and this may be attributed to its rich phytochemical, nutrient and vitamin composition. Therefore, the findings of the study suggest that J. carnea leaves could be used to manage sperm abnormalities and anaemia associated with benign prostitis.