Efficacy of vitamin C and ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum in promoting fertility in male Wistar rats

AIMS: This study investigates the efficacy of ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum (EES), vitamin C (VC), and EES + VC in promoting fertility and finding a possible link between their profertility effects and their antioxidant activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Wistar rats [Body weight (BW) 186.56 +/- 0.465 g] were randomly analyzed into four groups of ten rats each: Control, EES(G) (EES only), VC(G) (vitamin C only), and EES + VC(G) (EES in conjunction with vitamin C). Control was given 5 ml/kg BW/day of normal saline orally; EES(G) was administered 0.3 g/kg BW/day of EES; VC(G) was administered 15 mg/kg BW/ day of VC; while EES + VC(G) was administered both 0.3 g/kg BW/day of EES and 15 mg/kg BW/day of VC. All treatments were for 10 weeks. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Independent-sample T test was used to analyze the obtained results. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that EES, VC, and more importantly EES + VC are capable of significantly increasing BW gain, seminal parameters, testosterone level, and body antioxidant activities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings lead to the conclusion that EES + VC as well as ESS and VC promote fertility due to both their testosterone-increasing effects and their antioxidant effects.