European Journal of Biology and Medical Science Research Vol.2, No.2, pp.37-44, June 2014 Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.ea-journals.org) 37 THE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BRYOPHYLLUM PINNATUM ON THE MICRO ANATOMY OF THE TESTES OF ADULT MALES WISTER RATS Amabe O. Akpantah, Kebe, E. Obeten, Emem S. Edung, Mokutima, A. Eluwa Department of Human Anatomy, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Corresponding author: Kebe E. Obeten ABSTRACT: The main aim of this research study is to determine the effect of ethanolic fractions of bryophyllum pinnatum leaves on the male testes using adult male wistar rats. Thirty (30) adult male wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each. Group (A) serve as the control group and was administered with distilled water, Group (B) was treated with 100mg/kg/body weight of the bryophyllum pinnatum extract. Group (C) received 200mg/kgbw of the extract. The treatment lasted for a duration of 8weeks. The rats were sacrificed the day after the last dose and the testes were removed and processed for histological studies. The results from the treated groups showed increase intercellular spaces within the seminiferous epithelium, shrunken and increase lumen, suggesting cells disintegration. This is indicative that bryophyllum pinnatum extract may have adverse effect on the testes of the treated rats. KEYWORDS: Bryophyllum Pinnatum, Micro anatomy, Ethanolic, Testes, Wistar rats INTRODUCTION Bryophyllum pinnatum popularly known as “Resurrection plant” is a perennial herb used in folkloric medicine in tropical Africa. It is classified as weed and the plant flourishes throughout the southern part of Nigeria (Gill, 1992). The divine herb contains a wide range of active compounds, including alkaloids, triterpenes, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, bufadienolides, lipids and organic acids, have been isolated from this species. The plant is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of variety of ailments and well known for its haemostatic and wound healing properties. The pharmacological studies are reviewed and discussed, focussing on that different extracts from this plant have been found to possess pharmacological activities as immunomodulator, CNS depressant, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antiallergic, antianaphylactic, antileishmanial, antitumorous, antiulcerous, antibacterial, antifungal, antihistamine, antiviral, febrifuge, gastroprotective, immunosuppressive, insecticidal, muscle relaxant, sedative. It is astringent, sour in taste, sweet in the post digestive effect and has hot potency. It is well known for its haemostatic and wound healing properties. The plant have considerable attention for their medicinal properties and find application in folk medicine, as well as in the contemporary medicine. The present review highlights the various ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemical and pharmacological studies conducted on B. Pinnatum and also pinpoints unexplored potential of it. (Variers, 2002; Naude, 1977; Steyn et al, 1998) Various species of B.Pinnatum are used medicinally in IndoChina, China and Philippines Islands. It is naturalized throughout the hot and moist parts of India. The leaves and bark are bitter tonic, astringent to the bowels, analgesic, carminative, useful in diarrhoea and vomiting (Kirtikar, 1975). It is applied externally and taken internally for all types of pains and inflammations, various bacterial, viral and fungal infections, leishmaniasis, earaches, upper respiratory infections, stomach ulcers, flu and fever (Silva et al., 1995)