| Table 1. The effect of watermelon on male reproductive function. | ||||||
| Reference | Animal used | Plant part used and form of extract | Route of administration | Dosage | Duration of Treatment | Effect of Watermelon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onyeso et al. (2016) | Wistar rats | Seeds; methanolic extract | NM | 100 and 200 mg/kg | 30 days | *Increase in serum level of testosterone *Increase the sperm motility, count, morphology, viability *Improved histological structure |
| Amedu & Idoko (2016) | Wistar rats | The inner part of the fruit | Intraperitoneally | Juice; NM | 8 weeks | *Increased level of testosterone, FSH, and LH *Increased level of sperm count, motility, concentration, and morphology |
| Kolawole et al. (2017) | Wistar rats | Rind; Methanolic Extract | Orally | 200 mg/kg | 35 days | *Enhanced sperm count *Increased all reproductive hormone levels *non-significant increase in sperm motility, percentage of spermatocytes with normal morphology, and percentage of live spermatocytes, but decreased percentage of dead spermatocytes. |
| Khaki et al. (2014) | Wistar rats | Seed; hydro alcoholic extract | Oral gavage | 30 mg/kg | 28 days | *Serum testosterone was enhanced *Enhanced sperm quality |
| Daramola et al. (2018) | Wistar rats | Fruit; aqueous extract | Orally | 100 and 200 mg/kg | 30 days | *Increased the Follicle-stimulating hormone *Decreased the malondialdehyde level and increased the superoxide dismutase level. *Improved testicular histology |
| Akhuetie et al. (2018) | Wistar rats | Seed; crude powder and ethanolic extract | Orally | 200mg/kg | 28 days | *Reduced sperm morphological abnormalities *Testicular histology showed numerous closely packed seminiferous tubules with normal architecture containing spermatogenic cells |
| Kolawole et al. (2019) | Wistar rats | Rind; Hydromethanolic Extract | Orally | 500 mg/kg | 42 days | *Increased sperm count and reproductive hormone concentrations *increase in superoxide dismutase concentration and decreased malondialdehyde level |
| Pratama et al. (2021) | Wistar rats | Rind; ethanolic extract | Orally | 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg | 52 days | At 200 and 400 mg/kg, there was an increase in the number of Sertoli and spermatogenic cells. |
| Odo et al. (2021) | albino rats | Seed; ethanolic extract | Orally | 200 mg/kg | 8 weeks | *Increased testicular weight *Increased Testosterone level, *Increased sperm motility, *Increased gonadal sperm, and extragonadal sperm reserves *Optimum histoarchitectural protection of the seminiferous tubules |
| Awaad & El Gamel (2020) | Sprague Dawley Strain | pulp and seed; methanol extract | Orally | 100 and 200 mg/kg | 28 days | *Increased Testosterone, follicles stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in all groups tested *Decrease in serum prolactin hormone *Improved testicular histoarchitecture |
| Onyinye & Emeka (2019) | adult Wistar rats | Seed; ethanolic extract | NM | 500 and 1000 mg/ kg | 14 days | *Enhanced libido *Increased mounting and intromission frequencies *Enhanced intromission and ejaculation latencies, *Decreased mounting latency and post-ejaculatory interval. *Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormones were increased. *improved histoarchitecture of the testes and hypothalamic sections. |