ISPUB.COM The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine Volume 8 Number 2 1 of 6 Ethanolic Extracts Of Vernonia Amygdalina And Ocimum Gratissimum Enhance Testicular Improvement In Diabetic Wistar Rats O ASUQUO, A EDET, O MESEMBE, J ATANGHWO Citation O ASUQUO, A EDET, O MESEMBE, J ATANGHWO. Ethanolic Extracts Of Vernonia Amygdalina And Ocimum Gratissimum Enhance Testicular Improvement In Diabetic Wistar Rats. The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine. 2009 Volume 8 Number 2. Abstract To study the effects of ethanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum on the testes of diabetic rats, forty male rats were used. Group A consisted of eight (8) rats which served as non- diabetic control. The remaining rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. The rats confirmed diabetic were randomly divided into four experimental groups (B, C, D and E) made up of eight rats each. Group B served as the diabetic control and were given normal saline. Groups C, D and E received 200mg/kg body weights of Vernonia amygdalina (VA), Ocimum gratissimum (OC) and a combination of VA and OC respectively. This investigation lasted for 28 days. Results revealed normal testicular architecture in the normal control. Diabetic control exhibited alteration of germinal epithelium, distortion of seminiferous tubules as well as vacuolation of seminiferous tubules. The effects of the extracts on diabetic rats’ testes showed improvements compared to the diabetic control group. These improvements were more pronounced in the group D rats which received OC than in group C treated with VA. A more appreciable testicular improvement was observed in group E treated with combination of the extracts of VA and OC. We therefore conclude that the use of the extracts of these plants should be used in combination as they exert a better improvement to combat the adverse effects of diabetes on the testes of male rats. INTRODUCTION The utilization of herbal extract from plants found in fields and forests to treat various types of illnesses and diseases has increased over the years 1 . Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Ocimum gratissimum (OG) are among the plants whose extracts are utilized 2 . The parts of the plants mostly used are the leaves, usually fresh to obtain optimum result 3, 4 . VA is used for a wide range of ailments such as constipation, fever, purgative, worm remover and against urinary inflammation in local medicine 5 . OG has been used as a medicinal plant in the treatment of headache, diarrhea, and wart and kidney function 6, 7 . VA and OG are used in the treatment of diabetes by tradomedical practitioners and natives of Cross River State. Other uses of these herbs are as insect repellant, smell disguiser and for colic 8 , antimicrobial 9 , antifungal 10 , antiprotozoal and antimalarial 11 . Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease caused by deficiency in the secretion or action of insulin 12 . The increasing number of aging population, consumption of calorie-rich diet, obesity and sedentary life style has led to an alarming increase in the number of diabetics Worldwide 13, 14 . Diabetes has gradually found its root in Africa, especially in Nigeria where Westernized ways are imbibed; this disease has a significant effect on male reproductive function as the incidence of diabetes among men attending infertility clinics is on the increase 15, this suggested the use of the herbs on animal models for their efficacy. The risk factors for developing erectile dysfunction are neuropathy, blood vessel damage and poor blood sugar control 16 . Streptozotocin (STZ) was found to be selectively toxic to the beta cells of the pancreatic islet, and this suggested the drug’s use as an animal model of type 1 diabetes mellitus 17 . Type I diabetes formerly known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile onset diabetes mellitus is characterized by severe or absolute lack of insulin caused by reduction in, or complete destruction of β-cell mass 18 . The trigger of the β-cell mass reduction or destruction has not been elucidated 19, 20 . Despite the uncertainty in the etiology, three mechanisms have been speculated; genetic susceptibility, anti-immunity and environmental insults 18, 21, 22 . These mechanisms have been found to act jointly and in a sequence leading to an eventual destruction of β-cells, then diabetes 23 . Although studies have