The effects of the methanol extracts of the leaves of
Phyllanthus amarus
on the sperm parameters
of male Guinea pigs were investigated. The effects of Vitamin E on the sperm parameters were also investigated and
compared to that of
Phyllanthus amarus. The phytochemical screening of the leaves of
Phyllanthus amarus was also
carried out. The methanol extract of the
Phyllanthus amarus leaf (50-200mg/kg) caused a decrease in the sperm
count and motility, from 65.0± 2.80 and 66.7±0.33 to 46.0± 2.10 and 37.7± 1.50 respectively. However, this effect
was less pronounced at higher doses of
Phyllanthus amarus (
400 and 800mg/kg). At 400 and 800mg/kg,
P. amarus
caused a decrease in sperm motility and count from 65.0±2.50 and 66.7± 1.5 to 52.7± 0.50 and 56.7± 0.80 : to
43.3±1.70 and 48.3±1.70 respectively . These effects were dose- dependent and comparable to the observed effects of
Vitamin E (500IU) on sperm parameters of male guinea pigs. These were significant at P < 0.05 (ANOVA). In timedependent
study, the observed effect of
P. amarus (800mg/kg) and Vitamin E on the values of sperm count and
motility at 28 day were almost the same. These values are 56.7± 3.30 and 48.3± 1.70 for vitamin E; 47.5±2.50 and
47.5± 2.50 for P.amarus respectively for sperm motility and count. These effects were time- dependent and
statistically significant at P < 0.05 (ANOVA). Finally, the phytochemical screening of the leaves of
Phyllanthus amarus revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins and cardiac glycosides.
This shows that the leaves of
P .amarus do not largely contribute direct to the claims on the use of the aerial part of
this plant by traditional medicine practitioners to increase/improve libido in men but it may have some indirect
beneficial effects on this claim (like antioxidant activity) that mimic Vitamin E in both action and mechanism of
action. However, further studies need to be done to investigate the contribution of the seeds of this plant in the
improvement of libido in men and to isolate and characterize the active principles in the extracts of this plant. @
JASEM
