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The sausage plant (Kigelia africana): Have we finally discovered a male sperm
booster?

Article  in  Journal of Medicinal Plants · April 2013

DOI: 10.5897/JMPR12.0746

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 Vol. 7(15), pp. 903-910, 17 April, 2013
DOI 10.5897/JMPR12.0746 Journal of Medicinal Plant Research
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2013 Academic Journals
http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR

Review

The sausage plant (Kigelia africana): Have we finally

discovered a male sperm booster?
Onyemaechi Okpara Azu
Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South
Africa.
Accepted 12 February, 2013

Our world harbors a rich source of medicinal plants which are used in the treatment of a wide range of
diseases. Kigelia africana popularly known as the Sausage tree, cucumber plant, Kigelia pinnata, is a
multipurpose medicinal plant with many attributes and considerable potentials. Some of these include
its use for treatment of gynaecological disorders, renal ailments, skin complaint, tumors and
reproductive disorders in developing countries where western orthodox medicine are expensive and or
inaccessible, and there is high poverty rate. Anectdoctal reports of its use in treatment of many
ailments of reproductive background abound, and scientific validation of this in the last decades
remains promising. Against the background of increasing male-factor related infertility and the
continued search for phytomedical source for treatment, the present review highlights the reports of
researchers on the potential fertility-enhancing properties of K. africana (Lam.) Benth with a view to its
future development as a male sperm booster to alleviate the oligo/azoospermia associated with male
infertility and also its diverse applications even in improving yield in aquaculture.

Key words: Kigelia africana, fertility-enhancing properties, reproduction.

INTRODUCTION

An impressive improvement has occurred in global health Infectious diseases are important in public health for
status in the past century which has become a cause for communities in Africa and the developing world (Sparg et
celebration. Therefore, public-health professionals can al., 2000), and these diseases and subsequent deaths
feel proud of their contribution to these achievements have devastating consequences for developing
even as they appreciate the complexity of the underlying economies. The meager health budgets and lack of
driving forces, many of which lie outside traditional public- adequate medical facilities hinder efforts by poor African
health work. But this satisfaction must be tempered by countries to match the overwhelming treatment and
emerging concerns (Sen and Bonita, 2000) against the prevention burden presented by these diseases (Louw et
recent evidence suggesting that based on current trends, al., 2002). This has in one way advanced the interest in
many low-income countries are unlikely to achieve indigenous herbal medicines/remedies as a potential
desired health targets by 2015, due to devastating source of treatment repertoires by the natives in time
disease and overwhelmingly failing health systems past. Currently, many research efforts towards our
(Travis et al., 2004). indigenous African systems (knowledge) is receiving

*Corresponding author. E-mail: azu@ukzn.ac.za. Tel: +27312604305.

904 J. Med. Plants Res.

strong support by the various higher education and probable mechanisms of action of herbal medicine.
research bodies across the countries, especially in South Many western pharmaceutical agents are derived from
Africa. tropical plant species, such as quinine from Cinchona
Traditional knowledge to solve health problems of spp., cancer-treating drugs from the rosy periwinkle
mankind and animals exists in all countries of the world (Catharanthus roseus), treatments for enlarged prostate
(Rukangira, 2001), with history dating back to as long as gland from Prunus africana, forskolin which has a variety
3000 BC years ago (Sofowora, 1982). In most of the of medicinal uses, from the root of Coleus forskohlii and
traditional medicine, the medicinal plant include the fresh medicine for treating diabetes from Dioscorea dumetorum
or dried part, whole, chopped, powdered or an advanced and Harungana vismia (Cunningham and Mbenkum,
form of the herb usually made via extraction by a solvent 1993; Colfer et al., 2006). The economic value therefore
such as water, ethanol or an organic solvent which play a of traditional medicine is considerable, for example the
major role and constitute the backbone of traditional bark of P. africana is exported from Cameroon, Equitorial
medicine (Mukherjee, 2002). This system has undergone Guinea, Madagascar, and Tanzania to the European
numerous transformations according to the prevailing Union (EU) under a systematic methodology that allows
cultural, traditional and social indices in the community for sustainable management of the plant in the host
but what has remained as a recurrent decimal across countries while maintaining supply to the pharmaceutical
regions is the continuous interest by the scientific industries in Europe (Clemente Muñoz et al., 2006). In
community into the proper identification of the relevant 1999, the Forestry Department of Equatorial Guinea set
plant/herbs that are useful. an annual export quota for Prunus bark of 500 tonnes per
year, upon consultation with the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
WHY PLANT-BASED THERAPY? authorities in Malabo (Sunderland and Tako, 1999).
Herbs have been used since the beginning of time to
Knowledge has been built for decades on the use of aid in many different ailments. Of these ailments, fertility
herbal medicinal products and extracts in the treatment of has been enhanced and even corrected by the use of
human diseases (Iwalewa et al., 2007). In Nigeria certain herbs (Ramsey, 2000). The use of plant extracts
(Kafaru, 1994), South Africa (Mander, 1998) and as fertility enhancer in animals is now in the increase
Bangladesh (Apu et al., 2012), traditional medicine has because of the shifting of attention from synthetic drugs
become well acknowledged and established as a viable to natural plant products (Dada and Ajilore, 2009).
profession that has helped in solving the numerous Hence, despite the increasing availability of conventional
fertility related problems plaguing the society. Ethno- pharmacological therapies for management of fertility-
medicinal plant-use data in many forms has been heavily related abnormalities in males, plant-derived herbal
utilized in the development of formulas and remedies have continued to increase the repertoire of
pharmacopoeias, providing a major focus in global health available options for men seeking to improve their sexual
care as well as contributing substantially to the drug life (Azu et al., 2009). This review is undertaken to
development process (Graham et al., 2000). The highlight the significant milestone in the research on
medicinal values of these plants lie in some chemical Kigelia africana geared towards improvement in male
substances that produce definite physiological actions on reproductive health. It is also intended to advance likely
the human body. Some of these bioactive constituents of pathways for its proposed action.
plants are classified as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids,
saponins, phenolic compounds; and other compounds
reported to possess diverse range of bioactivity (Edeoga K. AFRICANA PLANT
et al., 2005; Iwalewa et al., 2007).
Herbs have provided us some of the very important K. africana (Lam) Benth, herein after referred to as K.
lifesaving drugs used in the armamentarium of modern africana, belongs to the family Bignoniaceae, an
medicine. Surprisingly, of the 400,000 plant species that exceptional indigenous medicinal plant, native to and
Botanists have identified, only about 6% have been widely distributed in Africa where it grows in open
studied for biological activity, and about 15% have been woodlands and wet areas including river banks/
investigated phytochemically (Cragg et al., 1997). This is floodplains of Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Guinea, and
against the backdrop of progress made in modern Senegal. It can also be found in open woodland from
medicine, with more than 70% of the developing world's KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) to Tanzania, Chad, and
population still dependent on traditional medicine (Shaikh Namibia (Burkill, 1985). It represents an interesting
and Hatcher, 2005). This inadvertedly shows a dire need example of a plant used in traditional medicine for many
for the in-depth review of the chemical constituents, years, but which is now attracting interest and use far
pharmacological evaluation and biological activities and beyond its original geographical range (Kolodziej, 1997;
 Azu 905

Owolabi and Omogbai, 2007). It is commonly called al., 2006; Choudhury et al., 2011). These bioactive
‘Sausage tree’ or ‘Cucumber tree’ due to its long constituents are reported present in the fruits of K.
sausage-like fruit. africana as an iridoid, verminoside and polyphenols like
verbascoside (Picerno et al., 2005; Gouda et al., 2006),
stem bark (Sofowara, 1984; Binutu et al., 1997), root
Description of K. africana tree, fruit, and seed bark (Binutu et al., 1997; Weiss et al., 2000) and the
leaves (Guoda et al., 2006).
The tree is widely grown as an ornamental plant in the A notable number of bioactive compounds have been
tropical regions for its decorative flowers and unusual recorded from the Bignoniaceae family of plants that
fruit. It can grow to more than 20 m tall. The bark is grey reportedly demonstrates a number of important activities
and at first smooth but peels on older trees. The bark can which are beneficial to human beings. The various
be as thick as 5 mm. The wood is pale brown or yellowish activities included mosquito larvicidal (Taura et al., 2004),
in color, and not prone to cracking (Roodot, 1992). The anti-oxidant (Oltof et al., 2001; Jung et al., 2006; Olaleye
leaves are opposite or in whorls of 30 to 50 cm in length, and Rocha, 2007, 2008), anti-plasmodial (Zofou et al.,
pinnate, with six to ten oval leaflets each up to 20 cm in 2011), antiprotozoal (Moideen et al., 1999; Weiss et al.,
length and 6 cm wide. Some birds/insects are attracted to 2000), anti-amoebic (Bharti et al., 2006), antidiarrheal
the flowers where they use the strong stems as footholds. (Galvez et al., 1993; Akah, 1998; Owolabi and Omogbai,
Their scent is most notable at night, indicating their 2009), anti-inflammatory (Picerno et al., 2005; Hussain et
reliance on pollination by bats which visit them for pollen al., 2007; Owolabi and Omogbai, 2007), anti-microbial
and nectar. It flowers between the months of August and (Akunyili et al., 1991), antibacterial (Binutu et al., 1996;
November (Joffe, 2003). Flowers are bisexual, very large; Grace et al., 2002; Ogbeche et al., 2002; Hussain et al.,
pedicel up to 11 cm long up curved at tip; calyx shortly 2007; Owolabi et al., 2007), anti-depressant/central
tubular to campanulate, 2 to 4.5 cm long, suddenly nervous system (CNS) stimulant effects (Owolabi et al.,
widening and incurving upwards, limp 2-lipped, with the 2008), anti-cancer (Houghton et al., 1994; Jackson et al.,
super or lip 2-lobed, the lower one 3-lobed and recurved 2000; Picerno et al., 2005; Bharti et al., 2006; Hussain et
(Grace et al., 2002). al., 2007), anti-diabetic, anti-nociceptive, anti-snake
The huge, grey-brown fruit is a woody berry 30 to 100 venom and neurotrophic (Rahmatullah et al., 2010)
cm long and up to 18 cm wide. It weighs between 4 to 10 activities. However, efforts at the further elucidation of
kg and hangs from a long and fibrous stalk (Azu, 2010). how these activities are executed in vivo or in vitro
The fruit is fibrous and pulpy, containing numerous hard remains to be established by researchers.
seeds which are inedible to humans. However, several
species of mammals eat the fruits/seeds, for example
baboons, bush pigs, monkeys, porcupines, savannah K. africana and male fertility parameters
elephants, giraffes and hippopotami. The seeds are
dispersed via their dung. In Malawi, during famine the Sexual difficulties are extremely prevalent among both
seeds are roasted and eaten by humans. Brown parrots men and women and are an important component of
and brown-headed parrots also eat the seeds (del Hoyo quality of life and subjective well-being of humans. They
et al., 1997; Mukherjee, 2002; Owolabi and Omogbai, are associated with a number of biological, medical, and
2007). psychological risk factors and increase markedly with
aging (Laumann et al., 1999; Leiblum, 1999). The main
sexual problems are related to sexual desire and male
Constituents of K. africana erectile dysfunction. As a result, the use of herbs for
treatment of diseases has become very common in
The understanding of the phytochemical constituents of developing countries, particularly in rural settings.
medicinal plants like K. africana is imperative not only However, during the last decade an increase in the use of
because of the understanding of the scientific rationale plants has been observed in metropolitan areas of
for its usage but also for the discovery of novel developed countries (Harnack et al., 2001).
compounds of pharmaceutical value (Fennell et al., There have been a number of important approaches to
2004). Several phytochemical studies revealed that the restore sexual function which may improve not only
extracts from many species of Bignoniaceae contained sexual relationships but also the overall quality of life. In
secondary metabolites such as saponins, tannins, this regard, alternatives for the treatment of hypoactive
flavonoids, quinones, alkaloids, anthralene derivatives, sexual desire are scarce despite the intervention of
reducing sugars, glycosides, carbohydrates, querletin, testosterone (Seidman, 2000). But many people still
kaempferol, α-sitosterol, terpenes, steroids, coumarins prefer to use natural plants extensively to relieve sexual
secondary metabolites and their derivatives (Gouda et dysfunction. Ginseng, for example, is an essential
906 J. Med. Plants Res.

constituent in traditional Chinese medicine (Kim et al., the fruits of K. africana in adult male Sprague-Dawley
1976), and at least 6 million Americans use the root of rats in the laboratory. K. africana fruit extract treatment to
this slow-growing perennial (Nocerino et al., 2000). experimental animals after 28 days significantly
Owolabi and Omogbai (2007) had previously reported increased (p < 0.001) the sperm count of rats and sperm
that sexual complaints such as infertility, poor libido, motility was above 70%. This result is in tandem with the
sexual asthenia and impotence are treatable with work of Abioye et al. (2003) as well as Ogbeche et al.
preparations containing the fruits, roots or leaves of K. (2002) where K. africana fruit extracts have been used to
africana. This has further driven the quest for medicinal enhance fertility in rats as well as increase epididymal
plants that were once considered of no value to be sperm motility/percentage pregnancy in male/female
investigated, evaluated and developed into drugs with Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. These data becomes
little or no side effects on the organisms (Adedeji et al., pertinent, bearing in mind that viable sperm is an
2006b). The beneficial outcome of this is that even in the essential component of any successful animal production
agricultural sector, specific plants can be used as fertility operation, and the success of reproduction is dependent
enhancer in aquaculture. on high quality gametes (Crus-Casallas et al., 2005) in
Dada and Ajilore (2009) used extract of Garcinia kola men (Van der Steeg et al., 2007).
seed to enhance fertility in Clarias gariepinus while Previous studies in rats (Azu et al., 2010a, b) and C.
Adeparusi et al. (2010) used dried K. africana fruit meal gariepinus (Adeparusi et al., 2010) showed that treatment
to enhance fertility in male C. gariepinus. Dada et al. with K. africana fruit extracts resulted in significant
(2010) showed that dried K. africana fruit meal affects the increases in testicular and body weight compared with
fecundity, hatching rate and percentage survival of C. respective controls, suggestive of enhanced nutrient
gariepinus and the authors ascribed this increase in utilization. When this information is mirrored with hormo-
fecundity observed in the study to the presence of nal changes following experimental intervention, newer
biflavonoid and xanthone in the K. africana. These insights can be gleaned to suggest that K. africana fruit
compounds are potent anti-oxidants which are capable of extracts may become useful in stimulating spermato-
increasing the production of estrogen, the key hormone genesis and androgen biosynthesis in experimental
involved in the production and maturation of eggs in the animals. Previous outcome following 28 and 56-day
ovary. Previous studies in male C. gariepinus have treatment with extracts of fruits of K. africana resulted in
shown that dried K. africana fruit meal also improved significant increase in serum testosterone levels (p <
fertility in male, by improving especially the sperm 0.001) which was more pronounced in the 8 weeks
characteristics (Adeparusi et al., 2010). It further reported treatment compared to controls. Serum follicle stimulating
that the sperm count (6.5 ± 1.2 × 109 sperm/m) of male hormone levels remained significantly high at the end of 4
brood fish fed 100 g/kg powder of K. africana, percentage and 8 weeks compared with the control, and this
motility (92%) and fertilization ability (90.88 ± 1.03) were paralleled Luteinizing hormone (LH) readings (Azu et al.,
significantly (p < 0.05) higher than corresponding 2009).
controls. With increasing male factor infertility in countries
While there may be other co-founding factors neces- around the globe, coupled with declining semen quality,
sary to determine reproductive competence, fertility- most potent herbal aphrodisiacs are available and have
enhancing ability as such cannot only be assessed by little or very little side effects (Indurwade et al., 2005). An
sperm count and motility alone. However, the ability of aphrodisiac, defined as any food or drug that arouses the
spermatozoa to achieve maximum motility and sexual instinct, induces veneral desire and increases
morphological configurations are necessary prerequisites pleasure and performance have been used by man since
for eventual fertilization to take place. This promising pro- time immemorial (Yakubu et al., 2007) to solve the
fertility effect of K. africana is expected to stimulate problem of erectile dysfunction (ED) or (male) impotence
further studies on improving better outcomes as well as (Monga, 1999). Studies have implicated the saponin
minimize the dependence on synthetic drugs as fertility component of plants in enhancing aphrodisiac properties
enhancing agents in fishery/aquaculture. due to their stimulatory effect on androgen production
Anecdotal reports on K. africana highlights its property (Gauthaman et al., 2002). In this case, the anabolic effect
of improving sexuality and fertility, and folkloric of K. africana fruit extracts earlier described is thought to
information in various tribes indicates that the fruits are be mediated via its increased androgen biosynthesis, as
hung on roofs of homes to represent a symbol of fertility testosterone is known to be the hormone that induces
(Owolabi and Omogbai, 2007; Owolabi et al., 2007). masculinity in man. However, the precise mechanism for
Oliver-Bever (1986) and Abioye et al. (2003) reported action of K. africana fruit extract on the testes still
that the bark has strong aphrodisiac effect. To investigate remains to be fully explained; whether it is via a local
this androgen-stimulating potential of K. africana, Azu et paracrine effect on the androgen receptors in the testes
al. (2009) had carried out in vitro studies using extracts of or mediated via the hypothalamic pathway are possibili-
 Azu 907

ties (Azu et al., 2009). But we agree with the postulation that MDA levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.001)
that this could be linked to the abundance of flavonoids when compared with the controls in Sprague-Dawley rats
(which is an effective aromatase inhibitor) as reported by treated for 8 weeks with K. africana fruit extract. Similarly,
Jeong et al. (1999). K. africana is rich in bioflavonoids, there was corresponding and significant (p < 0.001)
saponins and tannins. increase in glutathione levels in the same experimental
Phytochemical studies on K. africana fruit extract animals. It is known that the lipid composition of the
secondary metabolites revealed the presence of sperm membrane exert a significant effect upon the
saponins which might be contributory to increasing the functional quality of spermatozoa. Hence, while the
endogenous testosterone levels (Oyetayo et al., 2007) by sperm cell plasma membrane is high in polyunsaturated
raising the level of luteinising hormone. fatty acids, it makes it especially vulnerable to free radical
In previous work by Azu et al. (2009), it was described attack (Zalata et al., 1998; Suzuki and Sofikitis, 1999).
that the lower dose of K. africana fruit extract (100 mg/kg) K. africana fruit extract (KAFE) at doses of 100 and 500
was more effective in enhancing the spermatogenic mg/kg induced an up-regulation in glutathione (GSH)
parameters than the 500 mg/kg dose. Similar observa- levels especially at long term duration, and this may be
tions albeit on toxicity were made by Hassan et al. (2011) attributed to its inherent flavonoid content. There is
where high dose of K. africana was observed to be toxic. supporting evidence that some flavonoids can also
The reason for this observation remains to be elucidated elevate intracellular basal level of GSH, thereby allowing
but may be due to a direct effect of some of the better tolerance of free radicals (Durgo et al., 2007).
components in K. africana fruit extracts on the Flavonoid activities depend heavily on their antioxidant
reproductive parameters. It may likely be that K. africana and chelating properties. Bearing in mind that sperm
fruit extracts may have pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant morphology, count and motility are highly associated with
effects which are mediated at dose-specific ranges and the production and activity of free radicals and antioxidant
this might have been responsible for the higher doses not enzymes (Krishnamoorthy et al., 2007), it becomes more
producing similar or better androgenic effects in the plausible to agree that the ability of KAFE to up-regulate
previous studies reported. It is also likely that the weight- GSH, lower MDA levels and enhance testicular catalase
lowering effects of high doses of K. africana fruit extract activities does confer a strong antioxidative role to its
is possible due to presence of antinutrients that may components. However, the lower dose of 100 mg/kg was
cause poor feed utilization expressed as weight loss more effective than the higher dose of 500 mg/kg and the
according to Muyibi et al. (2000). reason for this is not yet known. This may suggest that K.
Animal studies (in mice and rats) have proven K. africana fruits extracts does not have a dose-dependent
africana ethanolic extract to be safe at certain doses not effect on the various parameters examined. The anti-
exceeding 4,000 mg/kg. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity oxidant pathway may provide a rationale for the use of
studies revealed an lethal dosage (LD50) of 3,981.07 this plant in folk medicine for treatment of inflammatory
mg/kg (fruits) (Azu et al., 2009); 4 g/kg (stem bark) disorders and male infertility, since oxidative stress plays
(Owolabi et al., 2007) and 4,000 mg/kg (leaf extracts) very crucial roles.
(Hassan et al., 2011) in either sex. Therefore, it is It is possible that the single compounds found in K.
reasonable to adduce that a study using the preparation africana may be acting synergistically in the body and
can be carried out safely within these limits of established mediating greater benefit than has been observed.
toxicity and treatment would be inexpensive. It should be However, very few studies have yet to be conducted in
mentioned however that different preparations of K. this area especially in humans and using cell cultures.
africana have been used by various authors in different Given this scenario, it is not possible to draw a
experimental protocols. It is therefore possible that the conclusion on how K. africana works to show whether it
difference in the test samples may have contributed to will be effective to treat hypo-spermatogenesis.
the differences in the results that have been obtained.
Oxidative stress is known to play a role in a number of
conditions detrimental to male fertility (Zalata et al., FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
1998). The pathologic phenomenon of oxidative stress
results from an imbalance between the production of At present, it is difficult to ascertain if the androgen-
reactive oxygen species and the defense systems that stimulating effect of K. africana fruit extract would
function to scavenge or destroy them (Favier et al., 1994; ultimately influence sexual desires directly or indirectly as
Agarwal et al., 2007). It is proposed that K. africana fruit experimental data still requires additional and rigorous
extract exhibits antioxidant activities by its ability to investigations. Certainly, sexual desire may be affected
significantly reduce testicular malondiadehyde (MDA) directly by increasing serum testosterone levels or by
levels as well as augment endogenous glutathione in an having a testosterone-like effect, or indirectly by affecting
animal experimental model. Azu et al. (2010c) showed behavioral depression, and stress (Kumar et al., 2001). It
908 J. Med. Plants Res.

is well known that low serum testosterone levels are the stem bark of Kigelia pinnata. J. Ethnopharmacol. 35:173-177.
Apu AS, Shakhawat HB, Shamina SP, Abdul M (2012). Anti-
related to low sexual desire, and that an increase in
inflammatory activity of medicinal plants native to Bangladesh: A
serum testosterone levels results in resumption of sexual review. J. Appl. Pharm. Sci. 02(02):07-10.
activity (Jannini et al., 1999). But again, an increase in Azu OO, Duru FIO, Osinubi AA, Norohna CC, Elesha SO, Okanlawon
testosterone levels over normal values may have undesi- AO (2009). Preliminary study on the androgenic effects of Kigelia
africana fruit extract in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Middle East Fert.
rable effects such as the possibility that testosterone may
Soc. J. 14(3):185-191.
be a promoter of prostate cancer (Nelson and White, Azu OO, Duru FIO, Osinubi AA, Noronha CC, Elesha SO, Okanlawon
2002). Furthermore, because previous reports also AO (2010c). Preliminary study on the antioxidant effect of Kigelia
support the positive effects of K. africana fruit extract on africana fruit extract (Bignoniacieae) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH (Azu et al., Afr. J. Biotechnol. 9(9):1374-1381.
Azu OO (2010). The role of Kigelia africana fruit extract against
2009, 2010, 2010b), both hormones involved in the cisplatin-induced testicular damage in Sprague-Dawley rats. PhD
pituitary-hypothalamo-testicular regulation of spermato- Thesis, University of Lagos, Nigeria p. 163.
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SO, Okanlawon AO (2010b). Histomorphometric effects of Kigelia
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OO (2010a). Protective agent, Kigelia africana fruit extract, against
reproductive organs like the prostate gland and seminal
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potential to be developed as drug by pharmaceutical antiamoeboic activity of iridoids isolated from Kigelia pinnata. General
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