Effectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa Calyx Aqueous Extract as an Anti-Obesity Agent and Enhancer of Fertility Parameters in Obese-Induced Male Rats

Obesity increases the risk of disturbances in the spermatogenesis process, which can lead to reduced male fertility. Hibiscus sabdariffa, known for its lipid-lowering properties, holds potential as a male fertility enhancer, although its precise effects remain unclear. To address this, our study employed obesity-induced male rats as a model to explore the impact of aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyces on male fertility while also assessing its anti-obesity properties. We divided 36 male Sprague Dawley rats into two main groups: control and treatment, each comprising six rats. The control group included normal, negative (obese rats without treatment), and positive (obese rats administered 10 mg/kg body weight of orlistat) subgroups. The treatment group received varying doses of H. sabdariffa calyx extract: Hs100 (100 mg/kg body weight), Hs200 (200 mg/kg body weight), and Hs300 (300 mg/kg body weight) over a 14-day period. All rats, except those in the normal group, were induced into obesity through a high-fat diet until their Lee index exceeded 310. Notably, rats in the Hs100, Hs200 and Hs300 treatment groups exhibited a significant reduction in body weight (p<0.05) compared to the negative group. Sperm quantity analysis revealed a substantial increase in the Hs100 treatment group (p<0.05) compared to the normal and negative groups. Histological examination of the testes indicated that the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyces in the treatment group improved the structure of the seminiferous tubules, resulting in a higher spermatozoa density in the lumen, increased testis weight and seminiferous tubule diameter compared to the normal and negative control groups. In conclusion, treatment with 100 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyces proves to be the optimal dosage for enhancing male fertility compared to the normal and negative control groups. Furthermore, it demonstrates anti-obesity effects in obese male rats.